Roll of Honor

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Officer

Ralph Maple

Colton Police Department — Colton, CA

Felonious

End of Watch September 16, 1916

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Officer Maple was shot and killed while attempting to disarm a suspect who was drunk and was threatening others at the Sante Fe Depot.

The suspect, 58, was arrested, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to 10 years in prison on December 21, 1916. He was released on June 28, 1923.

Officer Maple had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and child.

Survivors

Officer Maple had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-D240A892
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.
Officer Maple gave the Colton Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Colton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Maple.

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

Agency

Department Colton Police Department

Location Colton, CA

Platform Identity coltpd.sanbern.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 16, 1916

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Released in 1923

Officer Ralph Maple 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Colton Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Colton Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Ralph Maple Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Released in 1923

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Maple is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Maple was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Colton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

Detective

Kenneth Scott Schiller