Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable W.H.S. Ritchie was shot and killed as he and another constable attempted to serve a lunacy warrant on a 50-year-old man.
Both officers had been deputized by the Hardin County Circuit Court to serve the warrant, which had been obtained by his family and neighbors. As they approached the man's home, approximately 2-1/2 miles from West Point, the man opened fire with a shotgun. Constable Ritchie was fatally wounded.
The subject went to his home where he barricaded himself and refused to surrender. He surrendered after a regiment of soldiers riddled his home with bullets. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. His sentence was later commuted to 21 years. He was paroled on September 13, 1933.
Thank you for your service and please know that no passage of time can ever erase your sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) March 21st, 2021
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- 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.
Constable Ritchie served with the Hardin County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Elizabethtown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Ritchie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable W. H. S. Ritchie 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. H. S. Ritchie's cause is highlighted.
How W. H. S. Ritchie Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1933
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. H. S. Ritchie is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. H. S. Ritchie was killed by shotgun.