Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Joseph Ruby was shot by a suspect he was trying to take to the police station as a witness in a minor incident. After a disturbance, Captain Ruby and another officer apprehended one man, and when Ruby tried to take the suspect in, he asked to change his clothes and was denied. The suspect then took a step back and, while exclaiming that he wouldn't go, drew the .38 and shot and killed Captain Ruby. The suspect fled and was shot and wounded by other officers and then was beaten by several men before he could be brought in. He was eventually convicted of murdering Captain Ruby and was executed on April 15th, 1924.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-D85B0A17- Stewardship
- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Ruby served with the Campbell Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Campbell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Ruby.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Joseph Ruby 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Campbell Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Ruby's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Ruby Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Ruby is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Ruby was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Campbell Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
