Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Rolland Lane was shot and killed by a suspect while responding to a report of a disturbance at a hotel at 50 NW 8th Street. He was shot in the back and leg as he entered the hotel by a former member of the Black Panthers who had just fire-bombed a local business. The suspect was later arrested at the Orlando Airport as he boarded a plane bound for New York. The 26-year-old suspect was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to a mental institution. In 1977 the suspect was found competent to stand trial, was convicted of Officer Lane's murder, and sentenced to life. He received an additional 10 years for the fire-bombing. In 1981 the Florida Court of Appeals threw out the conviction and the Florida Supreme Court subsequently refused to hear the case. Officer Lane had only served with the Miami Police Department for eight months. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.
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BO-US-FL-116BDF84- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lane served with the Miami Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lane.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Rolland Lane II 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Miami Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rolland Lane II's cause is highlighted.
How Rolland Lane II Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rolland Lane II is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rolland Lane II was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Miami Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
