Robert John "Rocky" Lane (12 February 1946 – 13 July 1979) was a Victorian police detective who was murdered in the line of duty. He was also an Australian rules footballer who played two senior games with Carlton in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL). Lane, who hailed from Kerang, had joined the

Victoria Police Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian state of Victoria. It was formed in 1853 and currently operates under the ''Victoria Police Act 2013''. , Victoria Police had over 22,300 staff, comprising over 16,700 ...

before he was recruited to Carlton. Former teammates remember him turning up to training in his police uniform. He managed only the briefest of opportunities at the VFL level, coming on late in the last quarter in both of his appearances. He transferred to Williamstown, and later transferred to the country as his career progressed. Lane was captain-coach of

Lake Boga Lake Boga () is a town in Victoria, Australia, located next to the lake of the same name. It is situated within the Rural City of Swan Hill within the Mallee region of north-west Victoria. At the 2016 census, Lake Boga had a population of 985 ...

and, later, Lalbert, in the Mid Murray Football League. On 13 July 1979, while working as a detective senior constable with

, Lane accompanied a suspect to a campsite across the state border at

Kyalite Kyalite is a locality on the Wakool River in the Riverina district of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is part of Balranald Shire and is approximately south west of the state capital Sydney and north west of Melbourne. Kyalite was ...

, New South Wales. While searching the caravan, the suspect shot Lane twice in the head with a rifle that he had hidden, killing him instantly. Following a massive manhunt involving both Victorian and New South Wales police, the suspect was apprehended seven days later after he had dumped the police car in the river, and was sentenced to life in prison. He was released 13 years later. Lane left behind a wife and two daughters.

Notes

External links

*
Bob Lane's profile
at Blueseum
On This Day - July 13, 1979 - Melbourne Murder Tours

The Sydney Morning Herald - Jul 15, 1979 - "Rocky, the hero cop..."

The Age - Jul 16, 1979 - "Police hunt murder couple in outback"

The Sydney Morning Herald - Jul 19, 1979 - "Youth has vowed not to surrender police say"

The Sydney Morning Herald - Oct 24, 1979 "Detective denies threat against murder suspect"

The Age - Nov 6, 1979 - "Murder case"

The Age - Oct 8, 1979 "Police urge trust fund action over widows"

Victorian Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Honour Roll

National Police Memorial Honour Roll
1946 births 1979 deaths Carlton Football Club players Williamstown Football Club players Male murder victims Australian police officers killed in the line of duty Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state) People murdered in New South Wales Deaths by firearm in New South Wales {{AFL-bio-1940s-stub