Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Rene Lacau suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a violent subject after responding to a vehicle tampering call on Golden Gate Avenue, between Van Ness Avenue and Polk Street. The suspect was later subdued by four other officers. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Officer Lacau was a WWII veteran and had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C502312F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Lacau gave the San Francisco Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Rene G. Lacau served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Officer Rene G. Lacau is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rene G. Lacau's cause is highlighted.
How Rene G. Lacau Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rene G. Lacau is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rene G. Lacau was killed by person.
Incident Location
Military Service
Rene G. Lacau served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Rene G. Lacau’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
