Roll of Honor

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Captain

Joseph Ruby

Campbell Police Department — Campbell, OH

Felonious

End of Watch November 11, 1923

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 46 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Captain Joseph Ruby was shot by a suspect he was trying to take to the police station as a witness in a minor incident. After a disturbance, Captain Ruby and another officer apprehended one man, and when Ruby tried to take the suspect in, he asked to change his clothes and was denied. The suspect then took a step back and, while exclaiming that he wouldn't go, drew the .38 and shot and killed Captain Ruby. The suspect fled and was shot and wounded by other officers and then was beaten by several men before he could be brought in. He was eventually convicted of murdering Captain Ruby and was executed on April 15th, 1924.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-D85B0A17
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.
Captain Ruby served with the Campbell Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Campbell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Ruby.

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

Agency

Department Campbell Police Department

Location Campbell, OH

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 11, 1923

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .38 caliber

Offender Executed in 1924

Captain Joseph Ruby 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 Campbell Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Campbell Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% 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. Joseph Ruby'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 Joseph Ruby Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1924

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Ruby is highlighted in Nov.

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. Joseph Ruby was killed by rifle; .38 caliber.

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

2 officers from Campbell Police Department are honored on badge.nw.