Duran Ratliff
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Duran Ratliff

Felonious Veteran →
End of Watch March 6, 1973
Age 53
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Duran Ratliff was shot and killed after stopping a Clintwood police officer after receiving reports that the officer was driving drunk while in uniform. The officer was pulled over by Deputy Ratliff on McClure Avenue. As the two men spoke while standing outside of their vehicles, another deputy pulled up and exited his patrol car with a gun drawn. Shooting ensued in which Deputy Ratliff and the Clintwood officer were both shot and killed. Deputy Ratliff's third cousin, Officer J. Wesley Moore, was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 27th, 1944, while serving with the Clendenin Police Department, West Virginia. Deputy Ratliff was a WWII U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-85FD2673
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 Duran. 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Ratliff gave the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Clintwood community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Clintwood, VA
Platform Identity dcso.dickenson.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 6, 1973
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Duran Ratliff served in the Army (1944–1945) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Duran Ratliff 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 VA, 395 of 654 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 Dickenson County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Dickenson County Sheriff's Office
7
of 7 officers
100% Felonious
VA — Statewide
395
of 654 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Duran Ratliff's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Duran Ratliff Compares

Age at End of Watch
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Duran Ratliff is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Duran Ratliff was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location