Kenneth Grant Roediger
Agency patch
Officer

Kenneth Grant Roediger

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
End of Watch August 5, 1972
Age 24
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 7531
The Vigil Panel 110 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Kenneth Roediger was shot and killed with his own weapon while attempting to arrest a suspect during a traffic stop at 2 am at 233 North Wood Avenue. Officer Roediger and his partner witnessed a subject driving erratically and attempted to pull him over. After a five-minute pursuit, the subject pulled over but tried to hide in his vehicle. During the arrest, a struggle ensued, and Officer Roediger was able to force the suspect to the ground and began to handcuff him. As he did so, the suspect grabbed Officer Roediger's weapon and shot him. Officer Roediger's partner was able to return fire and kill the suspect. The suspect had recently been paroled from prison, where he served part of a life sentence for beating an 89-year-old Los Angeles man to death in 1956. Authorities found a pistol in the front seat and three rifles in the trunk. Officer Roediger had served with the California Highway Patrol for two years. His father was a retired California Highway patrolman. North Wood Avenue was a street that is now under the County-USC Medical Center.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Roediger gave the California Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Roediger.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 5, 1972
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 24
Badge Number 7531
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Kenneth is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Kenneth was 24. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Kenneth had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Kenneth among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Kenneth Grant Roediger

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch August 5, 1972

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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