Ronald Michael Ryan, Jr.

Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul, MN

Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1994

Age 26

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Badge 313

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Police Officer Ronald Ryan was shot and killed at approximately 7:00 am after approaching a car with a man sleeping in it at the Sacred Heart Church at 840 6th Street East in St. Paul. As Officer Ryan was returning to his patrol car to check the suspect's identification, he was shot from behind. The suspect then took Officer Ryan's gun and shot him several more times. He succumbed to his wounds in surgery later that day. The suspect later ambushed and killed Officer Tim Jones and his canine, Laser. The subject plead guilty to murdering both Officer Ryan and Officer Jones and was sentenced to life without parole. Only five months earlier, Officer Ryan was awarded the Medal of Merit for rescuing three children from a house fire. Officer Ryan had served with the St. Paul Police Department for 19 months. He is survived by his wife, mother, and father, who was a police lieutenant. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, mother, and father, who was a police lieutenant.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-CE7B9CB1
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

You barely got started.
Police Officer Ryan gave the Saint Paul Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ryan.

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

Agency

Department Saint Paul Police Department

Location Saint Paul, MN

Platform Identity sainpd.ramsey.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1994

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 26

Badge Number 313

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Ronald Michael Ryan, Jr. 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Saint Paul Police Department, 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.

Saint Paul Police Department

of 33 officers

60.6% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious