Joseph Emmett Lacey

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 30, 1956

Age 40

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 92 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 105

Incident

Sergeant Lacey was shot and killed when two armed men attempted to rob Eddies' Cocktail Lounge at 502 Ellis Street. Sergeant Lacey, who was off-duty, was enjoying a holiday drink with a friend when two men entered the tavern and ordered everyone to "turn around with your hands up." He attempted to draw his gun but was shot and killed before he could. The subjects fled without taking any money. Sergeant Lacey died en route to Mission Emergency Hospital. The shooter's accomplice, 31, was arrested a week later. He identified the shooter who was later added to the FBI's 10 most wanted list. On May 15, 1957, he plead guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life. On July 6, 1959, the shooter was apprehended by FBI agents in Des Moines, Iowa. The man, now 32, fled to Des Moines right after the murder and went to work operating a service station. On November 2, 1959, he was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to five years to life. The verdict was based on the claim that he blacked out from drinking beer and taking drugs at the same time. Sergeant Lacey was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 14 years. He was survived by his sister and four brothers. His nephew, Sergeant Brian McDonnell, was killed in the line of duty in 1970.

Survivors

He was survived by his sister and four brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-49FB272F
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Sergeant Lacey gave the San Francisco Police Department 14 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

Department San Francisco Police Department

Type Police Department

Location San Francisco, CA

Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1956

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Joseph Emmett Lacey served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant Joseph Emmett Lacey 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 97,756 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.

San Francisco Police Department

of 106 officers

62.3% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious