Deputy Sheriff Arthur E. Pelino

My husband, L.A.Co. Sheriff's Homicide Detective Roger Wilson, was called out to the scene of the crime along with his partner. Art was the only resident deputy at the Gorman/Lebec L.A.Co. Sheriff's post. Roger was shocked to discover upon arrival that the deputy killed was Art Pelino, Roger's old partner when they both were fairly new deputies working patrol in East Los Angeles. Art's youngest son - 8 year old Johnny - had come down to the small station to tell Art that dinner was ready. He saw Art laying on the floor and a man sitting near by with his head down. Johnny ran back up to tell his mom, Pat who came running down and put the docile and confused man in the lock up. As I recall, Art and Pat had 6 kids, 2 of whom became deputy sheriffs. Our two families had spend a Christmas Eve together back in their East L.A. days. Roger was very broken up and told me when he got home that night. We went to Washington DC to the Police Memorial a few years later and looked up Art's name. When Roger found out it wasn't there, he proceeded to follow through. The next time we visited, Art's name was there on the memorial wall and I still have a rubbing of his name taken from that wall. Roger passed away in 2012 and never forgot Art and his sacrifice as well as the toll it took on his wonderful family. God bless all our fallen officers and their families.

Wife of Det. Roger Wilson, deceased
Los Angels County Sheriff

August 21, 2021