Detective William Wally Rolniak Jr., 39, was killed on February 4, 2004, in Riverdale, Illinois, after a suspect in custody over attempted murder, home invasion, and aggravated kidnapping seized Rolniak’s service weapon during a transfer from an interview room to the lockup. Rolniak, a 14-year Riverdale Police Department veteran and United States Air Force veteran, was forced out of the station and shot in the head behind a building across the street; he died at Christ Medical Center about two hours later.

The suspect, described as having a history of violence and a prior abduction of an ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, then attempted to flee by carjacking multiple vehicles and shot and wounded an elderly man who resisted. Officers pursued the suspect, who was shot and killed after aiming his weapon at pursuing officers. Rolniak left a wife, two teenage daughters, his parents, and three sisters; the Detective William (Wally) Rolniak Jr. Public Safety Building was dedicated March 4, 2005.

Were there details about the custody and transfer procedures that anyone connected to the department or family can share to clarify how this was allowed to happen?