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 22 ReflectionsMelody,
I have always remembered this sad day for you and for your family. I remember your dad's name after all these years and just looked it up to find this page today.
We lived on the same block. We used to go to elementary school together, we played together, and we took dance lessons together.
That day everything changed, and I still remember that after all these years. I often thought of you.
Lisa Alexander
Childhood Friend of Melody
September 14, 2024
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