Roll of Honor
Incident
Traffic Officer Ralph Rutherford was killed when his motorcycle struck another vehicle on East 3rd Street.
He was riding the same police motorcycle that would later be ridden by Officer Paul Jowell in another fatal accident.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-125CC82D- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ralph. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Traffic Officer Rutherford served with the Hereford Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Hereford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Traffic Officer Rutherford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Traffic Officer Ralph Jarrell Rutherford 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 TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Hereford Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ralph Jarrell Rutherford's cause is highlighted.
How Ralph Jarrell Rutherford Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph Jarrell Rutherford is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Hereford Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
