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Deputy Sheriff

Ralph Dwayne Wilder

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department — Baton Rouge, LA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1972

Age 27

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 240 · Column 3 · Line 13 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 12

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wilder and Deputy Sheriff Ralph G. Hancock were shot and killed during a civil rights demonstration that turned into a riot on North Boulevard in downtown Baton Rouge. Police converged on the demonstration when three newsmen were attacked. A single shot was fired from an unknown person followed by a fierce gun battle between demonstrators and police. Two demonstrators were killed and 34 others were injured. Several suspects were arrested. Eventually 13 suspects were charged in connection with Deputy Wilder's and Deputy Hancock's murder. On May 8th, 1973, nine suspects were convicted of inciting a riot and participating in a riot in which death occurred. They were each sentenced to 21 years in prison. On March 31st, 1975, the Louisiana Supreme Court overturned their convictions stating that they could not and did not receive a fair trial in Baton Rouge. After the trial of the 13 suspects was over, the key witness in the trial received several death threats. On June 13th, 1974, he was found shot to death outside his office in Baton Rouge. Deputy Wilder was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

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. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Ralph 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.
Deputy Sheriff Wilder gave the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge 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

Department East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Platform Identity ebrpso.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1972

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Ralph Dwayne Wilder served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ralph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Ralph was 27. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ralph had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded