Ross C. Fisher
Agency patch
Patrolman

Ross C. Fisher

Wellston Police Department — Wellston, OH
Felonious
End of Watch November 12, 1936
Age 56
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Fisher succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier after he responded to reports of a man with a gun at a local tavern on Ohio Avenue.

Patrolman Fisher and another patrolman approached the man and asked him to step outside so they could talk. The man suddenly jumped up and produced a gun. Patrolman Fisher's partner tried to grab the man from behind, but the man turned and pointed the gun at him. As he did so, Patrolman Fisher opened fire, wounding the suspect. The man then opened fire and struck Patrolman Fisher and a bystander. Both officers returned fire and killed the suspect. The bystander died at the scene as well. Patrolman Fisher was transported to Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis, where he died three days later.

Patrolman Fisher had served with the Wellston Police Department and previously served as the sheriff of Jackson County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-884A5919
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

24 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Fisher gave the Wellston Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Wellston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Fisher.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Wellston, Jackson County, OH
Platform Identity wpd.jackson.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 12, 1936
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Ross C. Fisher 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Wellston Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Wellston Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% 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. Ross C. Fisher's cause is highlighted.

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

How Ross C. Fisher Compares

Age at Death
56
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ross C. Fisher is highlighted in Nov.

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. Ross C. Fisher was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Wellston Police Department are honored on badge.nw.