Ralph Clayton White

Lubbock Police Dept. — Lubbock, TX

Felonious

End of Watch September 1, 1953

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Detective Ralph White was shot and killed while chasing a burglar. Detective White and his partner noticed a suspicious vehicle in front of a service station and stopped to investigate. As the car attempted to leave the officers stopped it. While approaching the car they noticed another man attempting to hide behind the service station counter. Detective White went to the rear of the store to prevent the burglar from escaping. His partner then heard two shots and looked up to see Detective White fall as he was chasing the man from the back of the store. During the pursuit, they exchanged shots, with Detective White being shot once in the chest and the suspect being shot once in the leg. Detective White was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was arrested later at a hospital when he came to seek treatment for his gunshot wound. On April 5, 1954, the 19-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 75 years in prison. He was paroled on November 2, 1967. Detective White had been with the Lubbock Police Department for four years and had just been assigned to the detective bureau.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A7B91E34
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.
Detective White gave the Lubbock Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lubbock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective White.

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

Agency

Department Lubbock Police Dept.

Location Lubbock, TX

Platform Identity lpd.lubbock.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 1, 1953

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1967

Detective Ralph Clayton White 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 Lubbock Police Dept., 4 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lubbock Police Dept.

of 8 officers

50% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious