Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Ralph Ahner was killed when his motorcycle collided with an automobile at 4th Avenue S and Horton Street. He was pursuing a violator when the accident occurred. Officer Ahner's partner, Police Officer Ellsworth Cordes, was killed in a motorcycle crash three blocks away just three months later. Officer Ahner had served with the Seattle Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and stepson.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-E679D87A- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ralph. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ahner gave the Seattle Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ahner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Ralph H. Ahner is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WA, 111 of 339 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.7% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Seattle Police Department, 16 of 60 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph H. Ahner's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph H. Ahner Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph H. Ahner is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
59 officers from Seattle Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
