Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Riblet and Deputy Wilber Hendrickson, of the Dade County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed while attempting to prevent an escape from the Dade County Jail near the intersection of 11th Street and Avenue E. The brother of one of the prisoners went to the Dade County Jail, knocked on the door, and shot Deputy Hendrickson when he answered it. Officer Riblet, who was walking his beat nearby, heard the shot and immediately responded to the scene. He and the suspect exchanged shot and were both killed. The prisoner, who was the suspect's brother, was not able to escape. However, the prisoner did escape three years later and continued a life of crime with a gang of his brothers and other criminals known as the Ashley Gang. On January 9th, 1924, the escaped member of the gang shot and killed Deputy Frederick Baker, of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, as a posse attempted to arrest them in the Everglades. One of the other gang members was also killed. The rest of the gang members were shot and killed by a posse in November 1924.
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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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Riblet served with the Miami Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Riblet.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer John Rhinehart Riblet is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Miami Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Rhinehart Riblet's cause is highlighted.
How John Rhinehart Riblet Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Rhinehart Riblet is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Rhinehart Riblet was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Miami Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
