Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ray Westover was shot and killed as he and a state trooper searched three men they had stopped in a stolen vehicle on Ohio State Route 2 and Wynn Road in Oregon, Ohio. The trooper shot one suspect as Deputy Westover's killer fled in the car, leaving his two companions behind. The suspect fled into Toledo, where he lost control of the vehicle as he attempted to swerve around a police roadblock in front of St. Charles Hospital. Just before he crashed, he struck and killed a 19-year-old woman and seriously injured a blind man she was helping cross the street. The 35-year-old suspect who shot Deputy Westover was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life in 1972 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all death sentences unconstitutional. Deputy Westover had served with the Lucas County Sheriff's Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-184515E7- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Westover gave the Lucas County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Toledo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Westover.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Ray Westover 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lucas County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Westover's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Westover Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Westover is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Westover was killed by handgun; luger.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lucas County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.

