Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Ralph Richard Ash

Swea City Police Department — Swea City, IA

Felonious

End of Watch August 8, 1981

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Ash was struck and killed by a vehicle while setting up a roadblock at 0515 hours. A burglary suspect, who had been chased into Iowa by Minnesota authorities, attempted to run the roadblock and crashed into Chief Ash's patrol car, killing him instantly.

The 20-year-old suspect was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years in Anamosa Prison January 25, 1982.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-2F3B05A4
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.
Chief of Police Ash served with the Swea City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Swea City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Ash.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Swea City Police Department

Location Swea City, IA

Platform Identity spd.kossuth.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 8, 1981

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Sentenced to 5 years

Chief of Police Ralph Richard Ash 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Swea City Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph Richard Ash's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Ralph Richard Ash Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Richard Ash is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Richard Ash was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518