Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Chris Ruse was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit on GA 129 at approximately 10:00 pm.
The pickup truck that the victim officer was pursuing overturned near Pond Fork Church Road. As Patrolman Ruse approached the vehicle, one of the two occupants opened fire, striking him. The shooter, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, fled the scene but was apprehended a short time later during a manhunt. The second suspect was apprehended at the scene of the crash.
Patrolman Ruse was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, in Gainesville, where he succumbed to his wounds.
The suspect who shot Patrolman Ruse pleaded guilty to murder on April 11, 2006, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Patrolman Ruse was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had only served with the Pendergrass Police Department for four months and had previously served with the Winder City Police Department and Arcade Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-1C03C0AE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
Patrolman Ruse gave the Pendergrass Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pendergrass community. Thank you 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
Christopher Lee Ruse served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Christopher Lee Ruse is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christopher Lee Ruse's cause is highlighted.
How Christopher Lee Ruse Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher Lee Ruse is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Christopher Lee Ruse was killed by gun; unknown type.