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Incident
Officer Ronald Rotruck was killed in a cave-in of the West Tallmadge Parkway while attempting a rescue. A vehicle had fallen into the section of roadway that had collapsed, and the occupants, a woman, her daughter, and a neighbor's child, were trapped. Officer Rotruck and a civilian entered the hole using a rope being held by other bystanders. They managed to free the woman and one of the girls, but as the cave-in continued to expand, Officer Rotruck, the citizen, and the girl were killed. Tallamedge Parkway was renamed Memorial Parkway when the road reopened. Officer Rotruck was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Akron Police Department for 5 years. He was survived by his wife and three young daughters. Officer Rotruck and the citizen were awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three young daughters.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Ronald is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Rotruck gave the Akron Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ronald D. Rotruck served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Akron Police Department has lost 28 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
Ronald is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1964, 1 officer at Akron Police Department was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 1933, with 2.
In 1964, 3 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 35th heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1964, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1964, 84 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ronald was 27. Of the 6 lost to accidents at Akron Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.3 and 36.8; the middle age was 32.5. Ronald had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Ronald was 27. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Ronald had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ronald was 27. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ronald had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ronald was 27. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ronald had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 28.6% of these deaths at Akron Police Department; March holds the most, 28.6%. Tuesdays: 28.6%.
July holds 12.2% of these deaths in OH, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 15%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 28 deaths at Akron Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Akron Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.
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Guy Norris
Dec 24, 1917
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Edward J. Costigan
Jan 10, 1918
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Joseph H. Hunt
Jan 12, 1918
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Gethin G. Richards
Mar 12, 1918
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Adolph Oberdoerster
Dec 15, 1918
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George Werne
Mar 9, 1919
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Harold Rogers
Jul 8, 1925
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William H. Grubbs
May 10, 1929
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Harland F. Manes
Mar 9, 1930
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Forrest L. Good
Jun 21, 1931
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Kenneth Knepp
Mar 3, 1933
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William Sherfie Peterson
Oct 31, 1933
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Arden D. Weese
Mar 22, 1946
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Floyd A. Weatherholt, Jr.
Mar 25, 1960
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Ronald D. Rotruck
Jul 21, 1964
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Eugene Hooper
Apr 10, 1965
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Robert E. Donahue
Jul 31, 1968
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Glenn K. Stewart
Sep 5, 1970
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Stephen J. Ondas
Oct 21, 1972
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Gary A. Yost, Sr.
Aug 23, 1975
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Ben James Franklin
Jan 10, 1992
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Harold L. Wintrow
Aug 27, 1993
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George R. Knaff
Nov 5, 1994
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Frank Dennis Mancini
Jan 23, 2012
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Jonathan R. Long
Aug 15, 2013
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Justin Robert Winebrenner
Nov 16, 2014
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Kenneth Clarence Jones
Nov 7, 2020
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Edward Lee Stewart
Feb 12, 2021
Where
Military Service
Ronald D. Rotruck served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Ronald D. Rotruck’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Akron Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
