Goodbye to a Hero
Rudolph “Rudy” Limas passed away March 20. He was a Retired LAPD Officer and was awarded 2013 Medal of Valor and Purple Heart honors for an incident of bravery that took place in 1968. He was 79.
His death in Elgin, Tex., was reported to Alive! by Joyce Campa, his niece. Victor Campa, his nephew, is a Signal System Supervisor, LADOT.
Officer Limas’ brother, Ray Limas, is a Retired LAPD Officer.
On Aug. 5, 1968, Officers Rudy Limas and Norman Roberge were on routine patrol in the West Adams area when they saw a black 1955 Ford with four men in it start up a private driveway, stop suddenly, then back down the driveway.
Finding the movements suspicious, the Officers followed the Ford. Limas called in the plates to see if the vehicle had been reported stolen. Before a reply could be received, the Ford stopped at a gas pump and Roberge asked the driver for his license.
The driver informed the Officer that he did not have a license. Roberge ordered all four suspects to exit the vehicle and place their hands on top of the patrol car. Suddenly, one of the suspects pointed a gun at Limas and shot him in the abdomen and the thigh, with a bullet lodging in his hip. Meanwhile, Roberge was walking toward the police car when he was shot in both legs.
In the gun battle that followed, Limas fatally shot two suspects and Roberge emptied his gun at a third suspect. The fourth suspect fled on foot. (All four suspects were later identified as members of the Black Panther Party.)
Both officers recovered from their injuries.
The Limas-Roberge shooting is exemplified in one of the most enduring training films the Department produced involving police involved shootings. The film epitomizes the will-to-survive message and is presented to almost every basic police academy class for recruits throughout California.
The Club sends its condolences to the Limas and Campa families.
