Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Ervin Romans and Sergeant Daniel Sakai, SWAT team members, were killed when they attempted to apprehend a suspect that had earlier in the day shot and killed Sergeant Mark Dunakin and mortally wounded Officer John Hege during a traffic stop.
At approximately 1:15 p.m., Sergeant Dunakin and Officer Hege, patrolling on a motorcycle, pulled over a car at a traffic stop at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. During the stop, the driver opened fire, killing the officers. Citizens who witnessed the incident called 911 and started CPR on both officers.
The suspect fled on foot, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Oakland Police Department received an anonymous tip that the suspect was barricaded inside an apartment building on 74th Avenue.
Officers first attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but a SWAT team was sent into the location to apprehend him when that failed. As the SWAT officers approached, the suspect opened fire with a rifle, killing Sergeants Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai and wounding a third officer. Officers returned fire, killing the 26-year-old male suspect.
It was later determined that the suspect had an extensive violent criminal history and was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. In addition, at the time of the incident, he had a no-bail parole warrant.
Sergeant Romans was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Oakland Police Department for 13 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, and three step-children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CA-528E666B- Stewardship
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- 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 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 Romans gave the Oakland Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Thank you 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
Ervin Julius Romans, II served in the Marine Corps (1983â1992) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Ervin Julius Romans, II 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 Oakland Police Department, 37 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ervin Julius Romans, II's cause is highlighted.
How Ervin Julius Romans, II Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed by other officers
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ervin Julius Romans, II is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ervin Julius Romans, II was killed by rifle; sks.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
53 officers from Oakland Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
