Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Howard and Captain William Bourland were shot and killed during a shootout of several armed robbery suspects. The officers had located three suspects who had robbed a store in Spiro, Oklahoma, earlier in the evening. They began to chase the car down Spiro Highway and chased them onto Towson Avenue where they ran it off the road near South Y Street. A shootout ensued and Captain Bourland, Patrolman Howard, and all three suspects were shot. One of the suspects died at the scene. Captain Bourland was shot in the head, and twice in the chest. He was pronounced dead at St. Edward Hospital. Patrolman Howard was struck in neck, chest, and both hands. He succumbed to his wounds two days later. The two surviving suspects were taken into custody. Both were sentenced to life in prison but the sentence of one of the suspects was commuted and he was paroled.
Survivors
Patrolman Howard had been with the agency for 20 years and was survived by his wife, son and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-BA078226- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Howard gave the Fort Smith Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Howard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Ralph Howard is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Fort Smith Police Department, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph Howard's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph Howard Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Howard is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Howard was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Fort Smith Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
