Ralph Dwayne Wilder

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department — Baton Rouge, LA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1972

Age 27

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 12

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Wilder and Deputy Sheriff Ralph G. Hancock were shot and killed during a civil rights demonstration that turned into a riot on North Boulevard in downtown Baton Rouge. Police converged on the demonstration when three newsmen were attacked. A single shot was fired from an unknown person followed by a fierce gun battle between demonstrators and police. Two demonstrators were killed and 34 others were injured. Several suspects were arrested. Eventually 13 suspects were charged in connection with Deputy Wilder's and Deputy Hancock's murder. On May 8th, 1973, nine suspects were convicted of inciting a riot and participating in a riot in which death occurred. They were each sentenced to 21 years in prison. On March 31st, 1975, the Louisiana Supreme Court overturned their convictions stating that they could not and did not receive a fair trial in Baton Rouge. After the trial of the 13 suspects was over, the key witness in the trial received several death threats. On June 13th, 1974, he was found shot to death outside his office in Baton Rouge. Deputy Wilder was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-702A7B79
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Ralph is one person.

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Wilder gave the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge 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 East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Baton Rouge, LA

Platform Identity ebrpso.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1972

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Ralph Dwayne Wilder served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Ralph Dwayne Wilder 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department, 11 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.6% of this agency's fallen.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department

of 13 officers

84.6% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious