Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, California
End of Watch Friday, June 7, 1968
Add to My HeroesKenneth B. Royal
Deputy Kenneth Royal was shot and killed while responding as a backup officer to a felony car stop.
Another officer had just stopped a vehicle that was suspected of being used in an armed robbery minutes earlier, and one of the suspects had fled into the woods. As other officers covered Deputy Royal, he approached the second suspect, who was still in the vehicle. The suspect began to exit the car and then suddenly pulled out a handgun and opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy Royal. Other officers on the scene returned fire and wounded the suspect.
The suspect was convicted of armed robbery and first-degree murder and sentenced to death on October 25, 1968. His sentence was later commuted to life. On December 2, 1973, he escaped from San Quentin Prison. Before being captured four days later in Pinole, California, he committed two armed robberies, kidnapped a family of four, and attempted to crash through a police roadblock. He was taken into custody after being shot and wounded by Contra Costa County Deputies.
Deputy Royal was survived by his wife and four children.
The Kenneth B. Royal Firing Range, located at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, is named in memory of Officer Royal.
Bio
- Age 36
- Tour Not available
- Badge 357
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 21 Reflections6/7/2022
Time passes, but the pain never leaves, it creates a space in your heart that remains forever. It has been 54 years. I remember the last day of school when I was in 3rd grade. I don't remember the words mom said, but my body remembers the feeling. Daddy, I use to think you had lived such a long life, at least from my 8 year old perspective, but of course 36 years old wasn't even middle age. You were so missed and still are. I have the memories of what was, but it is the what could have been that is never know. Love you forever,
Melody
Melody Royal
Daughter
June 7, 2022
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