Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Sam Renaldi was shot and killed by a saloon owner over a disagreement about town curfew. Residents near the commercial district of Rocklin complained often about late noise from Rocklin’s seven saloons, so Rocklin’s Board of Trustees ordered Marshal Renaldi to enforce Rocklin’s 12-midnight saloon curfew. They also told Renaldi to ensure that saloons were keeping empty beer kegs off the sidewalk. Marshal Renaldi had cited the owner of a particular saloon earlier in the month. On February 18th, after the same saloon owner had threatened an employee by gun point to return to work, he challenged the Marshal to a showdown. The Marshal, his deputy, and the deputy's son were trying to decide how to deal with the situation at the town stable when the saloon owner, who had been drinking for most of the afternoon, appeared, at approximately 11 P.M. Deputy Marshal Willard's son, Alfred, met the saloon owner at the entry to try to calm him down and Marshal Renaldi ordered the saloon owner to surrender. At this point the owner reached back for his pistol and Marshal Renaldi fired hitting the owner in the stomach. The owner fired, hitting Marshal Renaldi in the right side. Marshal Renaldi fired three times again, hitting the owner above the heart, in the right arm and in the right shoulder. Both men slumped to the stable floor mortally wounded. Both men were taken to a Sacramento hospital for treatment where they died the next day.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-8D74B972- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Marshal Renaldi served with the Rocklin Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rocklin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Renaldi.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Sam Renaldi is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Rocklin Police Dept., 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sam Renaldi's cause is highlighted.
How Sam Renaldi Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sam Renaldi is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sam Renaldi was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Rocklin Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
