Ronald Lee Trumbette

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Felonious

End of Watch May 23, 1975

Age 25

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 4908

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Police Officer Ronald Trumbette was shot and killed while responding to a silent alarm in a warehouse at the New York Extract Company at 914 South Fifth Street in Philadelphia. As he entered the building, the suspect, who was hiding in the rafters overhead, jumped down onto him. The suspect then gained control of Officer Trumbette's weapon and shot him. Another officer critically wounded the suspect as he shot him three times. The 26-year-old suspect, with a long criminal record, mostly burglaries, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in August of 1976. His sentence was later commuted to life. Officer Trumbette served with the Philadelphia Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-DB88C255
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Trumbette gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Trumbette.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Location Philadelphia, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 23, 1975

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 25

Badge Number 4908

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Ronald Lee Trumbette 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

162

of 378 officers

42.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious