Rotanz is the only member of the DEA’s Honor Roll not recognized by the New York Police Department, but was added by the Union at the time of his death. Detective Richard A. Rotanz suffered a fatal heart attack while off duty on August 21, 1968. He was survived by his wife and three sons. Lorraine Rotanz-Augustine wrote a popular article titled A Shield Comes Home, that was published in the December 2000 issue of the DEA’s Gold Shield magazine.