Rock Springs Police Department, Wyoming
End of Watch: Saturday, July 15, 1978
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 8 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 15, 1978
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Patrolman Michael Rosa was shot and killed by the city's director of safety after a heated argument.
He was in an unmarked police car outside the Silver Dollar Bar in Rock Springs before 1:00 a.m. He went inside, and when he returned, the officer was in the front of the vehicle, waiting for him. When he settled in the back seat, the subject and Patrolman Rosa had words. The subject shot Patrolman Rosa point-blank in his forehead while Patrolman Rosa's gun was still holstered.
It was alleged that the suspect killed Patrolman Rosa to keep him from testifying to a grand jury about corruption in the department. He was charged with Patrolman Rosa's murder but was acquitted at trial.
Patrolman Rosa was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Rock Springs Police Department for eight months as an undercover narcotics officer. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.