Roll of Honor
Ronald E. Ludlow
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ronald Ludlow was shot and killed during the Watts Riots in Los Angeles. He and other deputies were at the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and Imperial Highway attempting to disperse a crowd from a liquor store that had been looted and set on fire. Shots were fired at the deputies as they attempted to protect the store. A car pulled up to the store and another deputy pointed his shotgun at the vehicle while ordering the car to leave the area. One of the men in the vehicle grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and during the struggle, the weapon discharged hitting Deputy Ludlow in the stomach. Deputy Ludlow was placed in a patrol car and died while being transported to a local hospital. Deputy Ludlow was the first fatality of the Watts Riots. As a result of the riots, the Los Angeles Police Department formed the world's first modern-day SWAT team. The man who murdered him was convicted of murder but was subsequently acquitted after appealing the conviction. Deputy Ludlow had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for just shy of 4 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-E411FEA2- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ludlow served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ludlow.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Ronald E. Ludlow 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 97,756 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 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 58 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald E. Ludlow's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald E. Ludlow Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald E. Ludlow is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald E. Ludlow was killed by officer's shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
