Ralph O. Marmolejo

El Paso Police Dept. — El Paso, TX

Felonious

End of Watch March 17, 1951

Age 22

The Vigil Panel 87 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 33

Incident

Detective Ralph Marmolejo was shot and killed while he and his partner searched for two suspicious men they observed entering a railroad yard. The officers decided to split up to better search the area. When Detective Marmolejo discovered one of the suspects he was shot in the abdomen. He was able to return fire and critically wounded the 27-year old suspect. The suspect claimed he was only attempting to scare Detective Marmolejo in an attempt to escape. He Died in the hospital the next day. The other suspect, 20, was apprehended and charged with murder.

Survivors

Detective Marmolejo was survived by his wife and two infant daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-4C4BF96D
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.
Detective Marmolejo served with the El Paso Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Marmolejo.

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

Agency

Department El Paso Police Dept.

Location El Paso, TX

Platform Identity eppd.elpaso.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 17, 1951

Age 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Detective Ralph O. Marmolejo 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At El Paso Police Dept., 23 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.

El Paso Police Dept.

of 34 officers

67.6% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious