Kern County Sheriff's Office, California
End of Watch: Thursday, February 26, 1953
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: February 26, 1953
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Captain Roland Barbeau was killed in an automobile accident while transporting prisoners from Ridgecrest to Bakersfield.
Captain Barbeau and a fellow officer were transporting prisoners when a tire blew out and their vehicle overturned. The two prisoners helped make the officers comfortable and walked two miles to call for help. Then they returned to the wreckage to offer more assistance. Captain Barbeau was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Captain Barbeau had been with the Kern County Sheriff's Office for 18 years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.