End of Watch September 21, 2001
Age 36
Badge 1380
The Vigil Panel 149 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Michigan Weapon: Handgun; .357 caliber Offender: Sentenced to 30 years

Officer Ronald Sheffield was shot and killed while responding to a call for a man with a gun at the metal detectors at the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit, Michigan.

Security at the building had been increased dramatically in the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon. The subject, who had been waiting in line to go through the security area, pulled a .357 caliber handgun from his bag and shot Officer Sheffield when he attempted to approach him.

Other officers returned fire and wounded the subject before taking him into custody. The building housed several federal law enforcement agencies.

On March 21st, 2003, the killer was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison with no possibility of parole.

Officer Sheffield was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Survivors

He is survived by his two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-748E452F
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 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 Sheffield served with the United States General Services Administration.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usgsafpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 21, 2001
Age 36
Badge Number 1380
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Military Service

Ronald Sheffield served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Ronald Sheffield 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States General Services Administration - Federal Protective Service, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

United States General Services Administration - Federal Protective Service
4
of 6 officers
66.7% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Sheffield's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ronald Sheffield Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald Sheffield is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald Sheffield was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Ronald Sheffield served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit Ronald Sheffield’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.