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Biography
As a public servant, Ray shared his life protecting and serving the communities he lived in and loved for 20 years. During his 16-year career with Ridgeland Police Department, he served the city as a patrolman, training officer, supervisor and swat operator – with his longest tenure as an interdiction officer and partner to K9 Canon. Shortly after Canon’s death in 2016, he began his time as a training officer and was eventually called back to patrol in 2020 as a supervisor. Prior to his career with the Ridgeland Police Department, he served the City of Cleveland and the surrounding area through the Cleveland Police Department, the Bolivar County Emergency Operations Center and the Volunteer Fire Department Battalion 1. He was also a founding member of the Delta K9 Search and Rescue Unit. Across a 20-year career history, Ray’s passion for serving others through law enforcement was undeniable. Those who worked with him and for him describe him as a wonderful leader and trusted friend to many. As a K9 handler, he set the bar for community policing and purposeful engagement. As an instructor, he stabilized the training program – developing and leading the next generation of police officers for Ridgeland. As a supervisor, he led from the front – with empathy and integrity. Ray’s impact and service to the city and its police department will forever be enshrined in those he served and those he served with, especially the men and women who will continue to carry his legacy. Continuing his service to the community and others around him, Ray was a proud member of Pearl Lodge #23. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he rose in rank to Master Mason by the age of 39. He was active in his membership, which was originally established through the Cleveland Lodge #470. He valued his time with his lodge brothers as he endeavored to live out the lodge’s core values of honor, integrity and character – working to better his community. As a father and husband, Ray loved his family fiercely. He met Kristy when she moved to Cleveland for school in 1999. Their love was big and magnetic – establishing the foundation of what would become their family and legacy. When Lauren and Jacob were born, it was immediately clear that they hung the moon – figuratively and literally.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
Officer Ray Daniels served with the Ridgeland Police Department.
Thank you for your service. We will always remember your sacrifice.
You belong on this wall. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Suicide
Ray is the only officer of Ridgeland Police Department remembered here.
Ray is one of 2 officers lost to suicide in MS, 0.6% of the 350 remembered there.
Ray is one of 190 officers lost to suicide in the United States, 0.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Ray is one of 256 officers lost to suicide worldwide, 0.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2022, 13 officers in the United States were lost to suicide, the 5th heaviest of 31 years on record. The heaviest was 2019, with 25.
In 2022, 13 officers worldwide were lost to suicide, the 6th heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 2019, with 26.
Who
Ray was 42. Of the 146 lost to suicide in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 50; the middle age was 43.
Ray was 42. Of the 209 lost to suicide worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 48; the middle age was 42.
When
July holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; June holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 17.4%.
July holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; May holds the most, 11.7%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Suicide deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Ridgeland Police Department.
Suicide deaths account for 0.6% of all 350 deaths in MS, the 5th most common cause.
Suicide deaths account for 0.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 5th most common cause.
Suicide deaths account for 0.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 6th most common cause.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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