Roll of Honor
Incident
Investigator Roland Lackey suffered a fatal heart attack while investigating a reported abduction of a 5-year-old child. An extensive air and ground search was underway for the child after his friends reported he had been abducted from a playground. Investigator Roland began to feel ill during the search and returned to his office, where he collapsed. Shortly after he collapsed, investigators learned that the boy was safe with his father, and the other children had made up the abduction. Investigator Lackey was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office for 13 years. He had previously served with the Commerce City Police Department for seven years and as a reserve officer with the Denver Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife and four children. One of his sons became an officer with the Denver Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-0CDE5D64- 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 Roland. 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.
Investigator Lackey gave the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office 21 years.
Thank you for your service to the Centennial 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Roland Oliver Lackey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Investigator Roland Oliver Lackey is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CO, 11 of 360 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.1% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points below the national rate of 4%.
At Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roland Oliver Lackey's cause is highlighted.
How Roland Oliver Lackey Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Roland Oliver Lackey is highlighted in Oct.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
