Rene G. Lacau

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 15, 1969

Age 45

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Rene. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

Department San Francisco Police Department

Location San Francisco, CA

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1969

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Convicted of manslaughter

Military Service

Rene G. Lacau served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Rene G. Lacau 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 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

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious