Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Ronald Oliver was shot and killed after he and several other officers responded to a silent alarm call at Wendy's restaurant at 3275 N Thomas Street. Unknown to any of the responding officers a man armed with a .45-caliber handgun had tied up the employees and was robbing the store. When Lieutenant Oliver arrived he encountered a man exiting the building, causing the man to flee on foot. Lieutenant Oliver and a second officer who had responded pursued the suspect, catching him and tackling him to the ground. While on the ground the suspect drew his .45-caliber handgun and opened fire, killing Lieutenant Oliver and wounding the other officer. The suspect began to flee on foot when a third officer arrived and exchanged shots with him. The man then fled on foot and was apprehended about an hour later. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in May 2007. Lieutenant Oliver had served with the Memphis Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, and stepson.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-AB323636- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Oliver gave the Memphis Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Oliver.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Ronald D. Oliver 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald D. Oliver's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald D. Oliver Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 2007
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald D. Oliver is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald D. Oliver was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from Memphis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
