Ralph J. DeSalle, Jr.

Youngstown Police Department — Youngstown, OH

Accident

End of Watch June 13, 1984

Age 40

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge 50

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Patrolman Ralph DeSalle was struck and killed by a vehicle while directing traffic at an accident on I-680, near Wayne Avenue. A speeding tractor-trailer attempted to stop but jack-knifed and struck Patrolman DeSalle at approximately 3:45 pm. Patrolman DeSalle was transported to South Side Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries 30 minutes later. Patrolman DeSalle had served 13 years with the Youngstown Police Department, assigned to the Traffic Division, and also served as a part-time officer for the Youngstown State University Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, sister, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-4C346685
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.
Patrolman DeSalle gave the Youngstown Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Youngstown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman DeSalle.

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

Agency

Department Youngstown Police Department

Location Youngstown, OH

Platform Identity ypd.mahoning.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1984

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 40

Badge Number 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Ralph J. DeSalle, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Youngstown Police Department, 4 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Youngstown Police Department

of 12 officers

33.3% Accident

OH — Statewide

318

of 991 officers

32.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident