Los Angeles County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich and the Board of Supervisors presented a new plaque and scroll to the surviving family members of Los Angeles County Security Officer Lee Edward Roach during a Board meeting.

After the presentation, Sheriff’s Department personnel unveiled the new plaque that was placed in a high-traffic area on the second floor of the Hall of Administration, near the sheriff’s check-in desk.

Security Officer Roach was assigned to guard county payroll warrants on the fifth floor of the Hall of Administration building.  While patrolling his beat on Nov. 13, 1968, Security Officer Roach was shot and killed with his own weapon by an assailant identified as a former Los Angeles County janitor.

Officer Roach was 40 years old.  The killer was never brought to justice.

Roach was assigned to the Hall of Administration Building for three years and was considered a top security officer.

This little-known tragedy was brought to light by a retiring Los Angeles County employee who noticed the plaque honoring Officer Roach was missing from its place on a fifth floor wall.