Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Rolland Lane was shot and killed by a suspect while responding to a report of a disturbance at a hotel at 50 NW 8th Street. He was shot in the back and leg as he entered the hotel by a former member of the Black Panthers who had just fire-bombed a local business. The suspect was later arrested at the Orlando Airport as he boarded a plane bound for New York. The 26-year-old suspect was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to a mental institution. In 1977 the suspect was found competent to stand trial, was convicted of Officer Lane's murder, and sentenced to life. He received an additional 10 years for the fire-bombing. In 1981 the Florida Court of Appeals threw out the conviction and the Florida Supreme Court subsequently refused to hear the case. Officer Lane had only served with the Miami Police Department for eight months. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-116BDF84- 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.
Police Officer Lane served with the Miami Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lane.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Rolland Lane, 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Miami Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rolland Lane, II's cause is highlighted.
How Rolland Lane, II Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rolland Lane, II is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rolland Lane, II was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Miami Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
