Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Patrolman

Roderick D. Gordon

Western Pacific Railroad Police Department — San Francisco, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 8, 1935

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 70 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Roderick Gordon was killed after being slashed and stabbed 29 times by a hobo he had found sleeping in a railroad car in Stockton, California. The suspect was later arrested in Ohio and returned to California to face trial. He was convicted of Patrolman Gordon's murder and sentenced to death by hanging. He was executed at Folsom Prison on October 16, 1936. Patrolman Gordon was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWI and a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was survived by his wife and young son. He is buried in San Francisco National Cemetery.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and young son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-E665F683
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 Roderick. 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.
Patrolman Gordon served with the Western Pacific Railroad Police Department.
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 Western Pacific Railroad Police Department

Location San Francisco, CA

Platform Identity wprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 8, 1935

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Executed in 1936

Military Service

Roderick D. Gordon served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Roderick D. Gordon 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%.

Western Pacific Railroad Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roderick D. Gordon's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Roderick D. Gordon Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1936

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roderick D. Gordon is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roderick D. Gordon was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518