Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Ralph Braden succumbed to injuries sustained ten days earlier while attempting to arrest a male subject at the scene of a domestic dispute.
He was seriously injured while struggling with the subject after the man attempted to escape out of a window. The subject was able to flee the scene but was arrested 14 hours later.
Captain Braden was transported to a local hospital, where he remained in ICU until succumbing to the injuries.
On January 22, 2012, the suspect was convicted of felony reckless homicide and sentenced to four years in prison.
Captain Braden had served with the Wartburg Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E80589C4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Captain Braden gave the Wartburg Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Wartburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Braden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Ralph Vester Braden is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph Vester Braden's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph Vester Braden Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Vester Braden is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ralph Vester Braden was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Wartburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.