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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
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- 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.
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
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has lost 23 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Lester is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Lester is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lester is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1934, 1 officer at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1934, 6 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 63rd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1934, 179 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Lester was 32. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 42; the middle age was 38. Lester had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Lester was 32. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Lester had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lester was 32. 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. Lester had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lester was 32. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Lester had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 20% of these deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department; March holds the most, 20%. Thursdays: 13.3%.
August holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 15.9%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 65.2% of all 23 deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.5% of these deaths.
His people
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, Lester among them.
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Samuel S. Leffler Nov 29, 1891
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Lenard Harris
May 16, 1894
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John Luckie Elsberry
Aug 16, 1895
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John Thomas Montague Jan 5, 1905
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Edward Shay Jul 13, 1909
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Joel Robert Dubose Sep 5, 1910
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James Jebty Pipes
Oct 2, 1911
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M. A. Moore Aug 30, 1912
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Scott Percy Yolton
Jan 6, 1918
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Edward Baker Sep 15, 1920
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James Nathaniel Malone
Jul 8, 1924
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Eveleigh Bollman Bates
Nov 8, 1924
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Printess Jackson Varnon
Mar 7, 1928
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George Durst Farmer
Jan 19, 1929
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William M. Schuldt Jul 2, 1930
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Henry Clyde Hatcher
Sep 23, 1931
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Lester E. Roland Aug 23, 1934
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John Baptist Bradberry Mar 16, 1935
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Jose Sancedo Aug 11, 1937
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Owen McManus
Mar 31, 1938
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George Richard Kebort Jul 8, 1949
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Oliver Columbus Grems
Apr 23, 1955
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Brice Leon Woody
Jul 23, 1965
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
