Ray Lynn Pierson

Utah Highway Patrol — Salt Lake City, UT

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch November 7, 1978

Age 29

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 15

Incident

Trooper Ray Pierson was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Highway 20, approximately 1-1/2 miles west of Route 89, north of Panguitch. Unbeknownst to Trooper Pierson, the vehicle had been stolen and the driver, a fugitive from Illinois, had just stolen gas from a service station. While talking to the driver, the man suddenly produced a .357 caliber handgun and shot Trooper Pierson in the chest. Trooper Pierson was able to return fire as the suspect fled but did not strike him. The man was apprehended following a high-speed pursuit and his attempt to crash through a police roadblock near Beaver. The 18-year-old man was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on July 19th, 1979. He was granted parole in September 2019. Trooper Pierson was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He had served with the Utah Highway Patrol for four years and had previously served with the Parowan Police Department. He was survived by his expectant wife, daughter, and two sons. His father also served with the agency.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-UT-6F4A7086
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Ray is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Pierson gave the Utah Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Utah, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Utah Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Salt Lake City, UT

Platform Identity uhp.ut.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 7, 1978

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Ray Lynn Pierson served in the U.S. Navy (1967â1971) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Ray Lynn Pierson 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 60.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Utah Highway Patrol, 7 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this agency's fallen.

Utah Highway Patrol

of 16 officers

43.8% Felonious

UT — Statewide

of 138 officers

60.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious