Roland Tafolla

Roland dedicated nearly half of his life, 43 years and 10 months, serving the people of San Antonio and Bexar County as a law enforcement officer. A 24-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department, Roland also served as Bexar County Chief Deputy Sheriff from 1993 until 2007. In 2007, the County Commissioners Court elevated Roland to Sheriff, where he continued to serve the community until his retirement in 2008.

Roland was born July 19, 1935 in Pearsall, Texas to Mariano Tafolla, a grocery store clerk and Estela Suarez. The Tafolla family lived on the west side of the railroad tracks that divided Pearsall and separated the community's Mexican and African American residents from its Anglos. Roland's early life in the segregated town imbued him with both a deep understanding of injustice and lifelong desire for equality and fairness. Roland recalled how teachers would punish him and his classmates for speaking Spanish. He never forgot the prejudice that he saw and lived. Pearsall is also where Roland, as a young boy, met a girl from the neighborhood, Maria Elia Luna. Roland and Elia would later wed and share over seven decades of marriage.

At the age of 22, Roland moved to San Antonio and joined the San Antonio Police Department. Eleven months later, Roland received his draft notice summoning him to the U.S. Army. Roland trained at Army bases in Texas and Colorado before being sent to Fort Slocum in New Rochelle, New York. Roland and his Army friends would take advantage of occasional leave to visit jazz clubs in New York City.

After his Army service, Roland returned to San Antonio and rejoined the SAPD. On November 21, 1963, Roland was part of President John F. Kennedy's motorcade from San Antonio International Airport to Brooks Air Force Base and back, before the President continued on to Houston that same day, and on to Dallas the next. Over his career, Roland advanced from patrol officer to lieutenant. He had the distinction of being the highest-ranking officer from his cadet class.

Roland retired from the SAPD in 1984 after 24 years continuous service, interrupted only by his time in the Army. He then served as a Precinct 4 Constable before joining the Bexar County Sheriff's office. Roland also started small businesses, including Tafolla Fence and Apex Auto Parts while he and Elia raised their family.

In 1993, San Antonio's newly-elected Sheriff Ralph Lopez asked Roland to join him as his chief deputy, and Roland began 15 years of service to Bexar County. In 2007, the Bexar County Commissioners Court selected Chief Deputy Tafolla to serve as Bexar County Sheriff and complete the remaining term through 2008.

Roland firmly believed that democracy obligated its citizens to participate actively in civic life. He was a vocal advocate for voting early and he never missed an opportunity to vote in every election. Among all the presidents who held office during Roland's 90 years on earth, he admired Lyndon B. Johnson the most. Johnson, Roland said, was someone who gave a damn about the children of Mexican Americans. Johnson was the only president to have taught at a "Mexican school" in Cotulla, just 30 miles from Pearsall. And Johnson was a leader who made passing civil and voting rights laws his defining achievement.

Roland enjoyed time with his family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved drinking with his law enforcement friends, and cheering the Dallas Cowboys and the San Antonio Spurs. On any given day, Roland could be found working in his yard or sitting in the shade of his patio in the summer heat.

In the last weeks of his life, Roland was surrounded by family and other beloved friends. His surviving family includes: his wife, Elia; brother, Danny and sister, Norma. Roland is also survived by his and Elia's four children: Rolando R. Tafolla Jr. (Ruth) of San Antonio; Rhonda R. Aguirre (Bryan Myler) of San Antonio; Rene R. Strater-Tafolla (Scott) of San Antonio; and Rochelle R. Tafolla (Richard Hess) of Houston.

Roland became a grandpa in 1985, and for the next four decades he loved, and was adored by, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His grandchildren include James Aguirre (Elise Urrutia), Dustin Aguirre (Jacqueline), Clarissa Hasso (Matthew), Mya Strater, and Olivia, Mariano and Stella Hess. Roland's three great-grandchildren are Jameson, Sloane and Barrett Hasso.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Trinity Hospice and nurse Monica Gonzales in particular for her emotional support and compassionate care in Roland's final days.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 12 at 6pm at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road. A prayer service will follow at 7pm. Roland was a longtime congregant at La Trinidad United Methodist Church, 300 San Fernando St, San Antonio, TX 78207. A service will be held there on Friday, March 13 at 10am.

Rolando will be interred in a private burial in Pearsall, on the same side of the railroad tracks that he was born, and at the only cemetery where Mexican Americans could lay their loved ones to rest: Frio County Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Association or La Trinidad United Methodist Church.