Ronald Leon Duplechain

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch November 17, 1979

Age 27

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 127

Incident

Patrolman Ronald Duplechain was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a disturbance while off duty. Patrolman Duplechain was on payphone when a fight erupted. The suspect pulled a pistol and threatened to shoot several patrons. When Patrolman Duplechain identified himself as a police officer and tried to calm the gunman, he was shot in the chest. Patrolman Duplechain returned fire and shot the suspect in the leg. Patrolman succumbed to his chest wound and died at Charity Hospital. The suspect was charged with murder. Patrolman Duplechain was a United States military veteran and had served with the New Orleans Police Department for four years. He was survived by his mother, father, and 11 siblings. His sister also served with the New Orleans Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, father, and 11 siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-34B2E1A8
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 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.
Patrolman Duplechain gave the New Orleans Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community, 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 New Orleans Police Department

Location New Orleans, LA

Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1979

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Charged with murder

Military Service

Ronald Leon Duplechain served in the Other (1974â1976) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Ronald Leon Duplechain 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department

of 128 officers

67.2% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious