Roll of Honor
Curtis John Ramsdell
Incident
Officer Ramsdell was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner. He and another officer had arrested a DUI driver and his passenger for disorderly conduct. While transporting the passenger the suspect was able to retrieve a .25 caliber handgun he had in his rear pants pocket and shot Officer Ramsdell in the stomach as he let the suspect out of the car at the jail. A jailer was also shot and wounded as he ran to the scene to help. The suspect, 21, pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years December 21, 1977.
Survivors
Officer Ramsdell had been with the agency for 14 years and was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-07547D5D- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Officer Ramsdell gave the Columbia Heights Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Ramsdell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer Curtis John Ramsdell 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 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. Curtis John Ramsdell's cause is highlighted.
How Curtis John Ramsdell Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 40 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Curtis John Ramsdell is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Curtis John Ramsdell was killed by handgun; .25 caliber.