Michael J. Ratikan

Oklahoma City Police Dept. — Oklahoma City, OK

Felonious

End of Watch June 14, 1971

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Officer Michael Ratikan was shot and killed after he and his partner stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. During routine questioning, the driver fled on foot. Officer Ratikan caught the driver and began struggling with him as the driver's brother emerged from the car and fired a .25 caliber automatic pistol. Officer Ratikan was struck and died almost instantly. Officer Ratikan's partner returned fire as the occupants fled. The suspect initially escaped, however he was later captured. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on September 30, 1971. He died in prison on August 21, 2014.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-7F8E04DB
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.
Officer Ratikan served with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ratikan.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma City Police Dept.

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity opd.oklahoma.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1971

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber

Offender Died in prison

Officer Michael J. Ratikan 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oklahoma City Police Dept., 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.

Oklahoma City Police Dept.

of 33 officers

60.6% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious