Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

Ronald L. Yeazel

Hope Mills Police Dept. — Hope Mills, NC

Felonious

End of Watch September 26, 1994

Age 42

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 140 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sergeant Ronald Yeazel was shot and killed from ambush while eating his meal in his patrol car.

His 41-year-old wife was later arrested, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. She was paroled on May 23, 2002.

Sergeant Yeazel had served with the Hope Mills Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his two children, parents, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-B5C1F0B9
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Yeazel gave the Hope Mills Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hope Mills community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Yeazel.

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

Agency

Department Hope Mills Police Dept.

Location Hope Mills, NC

Platform Identity hmpd.cumberland.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1994

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Paroled in 2002

Sergeant Ronald L. Yeazel 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hope Mills Police Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Hope Mills Police Dept.

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald L. Yeazel's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Ronald L. Yeazel Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 2002

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald L. Yeazel is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald L. Yeazel was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Hope Mills Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.