Sgt. Ervin Julius Romans II, one of four Oakland police officers gunned down by parolee Lovelle Mixon on March 21, was a loving father, beloved husband and treasured son who “touched the hearts of many,” his family said.

Romans, a resident of Danville, and fellow SWAT team member Sgt. Daniel Sakai were killed in an apartment building while trying to apprehend Mixon, who had killed Sgt. Mark Dunakin and mortally wounded Officer John Hege earlier in the day during a traffic stop.

Romans was the father of Kristina Romans, Justin Romans, Kayla Romans, Kimberly Brown-Lawson, Cameron Brown-Lawson and Jaymes Silvera; husband of Laura “Nikki” Romans; son of Chester and Sueko Romans; brother of Arthur and Tiffany Romans and James Romans; and uncle of Pamela Romans and Johnathon Romans. The officer's mother is originally from Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture.

Born in Ironwood, Mich. on Aug. 29, 1965, he graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1983 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he received numerous awards and citations, including nine Meritorious Masts, three Letters of Appreciation, a Good Conduct Medal with one star, a Special Achievement Award, a Meritorious Unit Accommodation, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

After serving nine years in the USMC, he began his law enforcement career as a police officer for the Oakland Housing Authority. He was then hired by the Oakland Police Department, where he served as a range master, sergeant of police supervising the Crime Reduction Team and as a team leader for the department’s SWAT Team. He received the department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for helping to evacuate people during a fire in West Oakland.

“Romans had an exterior image of being the tough, rugged guy, but everyone knows he has a soft heart,” Capt. Ed Tracey told the San Francisco Chronicle. “People called him ‘The Pirate’ because he just had this deep voice and seemed kind of grumpy walking around. But he was just a very compassionate individual.”

Romans was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time with his family and friends.

Visitation was held March 25 and 26 at Wilson & Kratzer Mortuary in Danville, followed by a vigil at Saint Isidore’s Catholic Church in Danville.

Funeral services for all four officers will be held on Friday, March 27, at 11 a.m. at the Oakland Coliseum, 7700 Coliseum Way, Oakland.

A family funeral service will be held Saturday, April 4, in Michigan, where the officer's parents still reside.

A trust fund has been established and donations can be sent to the Romans Children’s Family Trust, c/o Oakland Police Officers Association, 555 5th St., Oakland, CA 94607.