James C. Ratliff

Lawrenceburg Police Department — Lawrenceburg, IN

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch February 7, 1961

Age 52

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 3

Incident

Patrolman James Ratliff was shot and killed while at the scene of a domestic disturbance at the Wilson Oil Company. As Patrolman Ratliff approached an occupied vehicle at the business, a male subject opened fire with a handgun, striking him. Patrolman Ratliff was pronounced dead on arrival at Dearborn County Hospital. The suspect was charged and convicted of murder. He received a life sentence but committed suicide in 1979. Patrolman Ratliff was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Lawrenceburg Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and a daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IN-9056FCAD
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Ratliff gave the Lawrenceburg Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lawrenceburg community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Lawrenceburg Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, IN

Platform Identity lpd.dearborn.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 7, 1961

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

James C. Ratliff served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman James C. Ratliff 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 32,586 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 504 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 7.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Lawrenceburg Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lawrenceburg Police Department

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 504 officers

61.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious