Ross Peterson

Reno Police Department — Reno, NV

Felonious

End of Watch September 11, 1931

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Patrolman Ross Peterson was shot and killed when he interrupted two burglars at Reno High School, then located at West 4th St & N. Arlington Ave. Patrolman Peterson was serving as night watchman at the school during the first few days of the school year. Two suspects broke into the building and he approached them. The suspects opened fire and, in the ensuing shootout, Patrolman Peterson and one of the suspects were shot and killed. The other suspect was wounded and was able to escape from the scene.

Survivors

Patrolman Peterson was survived by his wife and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NV-0392B2EF
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Peterson served with the Reno Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Reno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Peterson.

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

Agency

Department Reno Police Department

Type Other

Location Reno, Washoe County, NV

Platform Identity rpd.washoe.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 1931

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman Ross Peterson 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 NV, 82 of 146 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.2% of this state's fallen. That is 56.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Reno Police Department, 10 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Reno Police Department

of 12 officers

83.3% Felonious

NV — Statewide

of 146 officers

56.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious