Ralph Palma

New Haven Police Department — New Haven, CT

Felonious

End of Watch June 13, 1954

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 22

Incident

Detective Ralph Palma succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on May 12th, 1954, when he was shot by two robbery suspects at the Paramount Theater at 146 Temple Street. The two men had committed a robbery earlier in the day. Detective Palma had gone to the theater with other detectives and members of the Connecticut State Police after learning the two suspects were sitting in the back row. Both suspects committed suicide several hours later as police closed in on them.

Survivors

Detective Palma was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-3436C55B
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.
Detective Palma served with the New Haven Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Palma.

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

Agency

Department New Haven Police Department

Type Other

Location New Haven, CT

Platform Identity newhpd.southcentral.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1954

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Detective Ralph Palma 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New Haven Police Department, 10 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.5% of this agency's fallen.

New Haven Police Department

of 23 officers

43.5% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious