Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Ronald Kilby was shot and killed after making a traffic stop of two ex-convicts who had just committed two burglaries in town. When he noticed stolen items in the back seat and attempted to arrest the men, a struggle ensued, and the suspects were able to gain control of his service weapon and held him at gunpoint. A citizen who was passing by stopped to assist but was attacked by one of the men. The citizen was able to fight the man off by striking him in the head with a tire chain. When Officer Kilby used the distraction to find cover, the suspect with the weapon opened fire, striking him four times. The suspects, ages 25 and 28, fled to Washington, where they were arrested the next day following a massive manhunt. Both were extradited to Oregon, where they were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 23, 1959. In November of 1969, one escaped from prison. He was captured two months later. In March of 1970, he was convicted of escape and sentenced to an additional year in prison. Both died in prison. Officer Kilby was a United States Air Force Korean War veteran and had served with the Hermiston Police Department for four months. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Merit for Valor.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-53AC4A0F- 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.
Officer Kilby served with the Hermiston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Hermiston 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ronald Glenn Kilby served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Ronald Glenn Kilby 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Glenn Kilby's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald Glenn Kilby Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald Glenn Kilby is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald Glenn Kilby was killed by officer's handgun.