In Memoriam – Rochelle Sax, 1947 – 2002

By José Elique, Hobreigh Fischer and Jim Morrow

“Police Officers, Take Care Of Their Own”… With these solemn words, UNLV Police Chief José A. Elique culminated a series of eulogies, which paid tribute to the memory of Police Lieutenant Rochelle Sax. Lieutenant Sax sadly lost her battle with cancer on March 4, 2002. Over 150 members of the UNLV community led by both President Carol Harter and Vice-President Rebecca Mills attended the farewell ceremony, which was held at Palm Mortuary on Friday, March 8, 2002. Police department personnel from Las Vegas Metro, Henderson, North Las Vegas, the Clark County School District & several other federal & state law enforcement agencies were also in attendance. The solemn and moving ceremony, which included uniformed bagpipers, a bugler, the UNLV Police Honor Guard and a 21-gun salute were all testimony to the respect that Lieutenant Sax enjoyed amongst her peers and the University Community, which she proudly served for two decades.

Rochelle J. Sax was born in East St. Louis, Illinois 55 years ago. She began her security and law enforcement career in 1981 when she went to work as a security officer for the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. In 1982, she worked briefly for the City of Las Vegas as a detention officer until she was appointed as a UNLV Police Officer on August 2, 1982. Rochelle loved her job, was extremely proficient at it and in 1991 became the first female in the history of the UNLV Police Department to be promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant.

Despite her numerous job responsibilities, Rochelle continued her education within the Nevada (P.O.S.T.) Peace Officer Standards and Training Program, earning advanced certificates. In addition, she expanded her education to include a specialization in handling both sexual assault and crime prevention. She also was able to earn her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice right here at UNLV and graduated with honors.

On December 6, 2000 she again made UNLV history when she was promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant, thereby achieving the distinction of being the female Police Lieutenant in the Department. Upon promotion to Lieutenant she knowingly accepted the additional responsibility of overseeing law enforcement operations during all special events at the Thomas & Mack Center, Boyd Stadium and other UNLV locations. As such she became the commanding officer of the police reserve officers and was instrumental in the expansion and professionalizing of the program.

Rochelle was a cop’s cop. She was the 2nd most senior officer in the UNLV Police Department and was respected by all who knew her. Rochelle, however was also a street cop who led by example and was “right there” beside her staff during law enforcement operations, crowd control tactics and rescue operations. There were times when her actions placed her in harms way, as in 1990, when then Sergeant Sax entered the Tonopah Hall Dormitory during a reported fire and evacuated students from the building. During the evacuation she suffered smoke inhalation, but this danger did not deter her from completing the evacuation operation. Her actions that night saved lives and prevented injury to UNLV students.

Rochelle was also an advocate for the UNLV community. She took the crime of sexual assault very seriously, which was part of the reason why she developed a specialization in dealing with its victims. She served as a member and representative of both the Community Coalition for Victim’s Rights and the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence. At times throughout her career, the Public Safety department awoke her in the late or early morning hours to ask her to respond to reported sexual assaults on campus. As was her way, she responded immediately and provided both comfort and assistance to the victims of this crime.

Rochelle’s compassion for others wasn’t limited to the students and employees of the UNLV community. Outside of the UNLV community, Rochelle was well known as a strong advocate for animals. She was a founding member and a board member for both the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Nevada and the Humane Society of Southern Nevada. In fact, before her career at UNLV began, Rochelle volunteered her time as a Humane Society Peace Officer investigating reports of cruelty to animals.

Lieutenant Rochelle Sax was a valued and loved member of the UNLV Police Department and the UNLV Community. She is mourned and missed by all of her colleagues but will live on in our memories forever.