Roll of Honor
Lester E. Roland
Incident
Location: Texas Incident Date: Tuesday, August 21, 1934 Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber Offender: Paroled in 1948
Special Agent Lester Roland was shot and killed while patrolling the Southern Pacific Railroad's switching yards near Miller's Switch in Dallas, Texas.
He encountered two men approaching the railroad bridge over the Trinity River and stopped them to investigate what they were doing. The men stated they were going to river to go fishing. When Agent Lester asked to check their bags one of the men produced a .45 caliber handgun and shot him.
Agent Roland was taken to a local hospital where he died two days later. Both men were arrested on the day of Agent Roland's funeral and admitted to the shooting.
On September 13, 1934, the man, 62, who shot him was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was paroled on March 30, 1948.
Special Agent Roland had served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police for approximately three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-6D722B27- 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.
Special Agent Roland gave the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Roland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Lester E. Roland 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 Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, 15 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lester E. Roland's cause is highlighted.
How Lester E. Roland Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1948
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lester E. Roland is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lester E. Roland was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
