Ronald Patrick Reagan

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI

Felonious

End of Watch December 13, 1973

Age 27

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Police Officer Ronald Reagan was shot and killed while attempting to stop a robbery at a local bar while off-duty. He was inside the bar when three men entered and announced a holdup. Officer Reagan drew his off-duty weapon and identified himself, at which point the third suspect, whom Officer Reagan had not seen, shot him. As he lay on the ground, all three suspects shot him several more times. One suspect, 18, surrendered to police five days later. Two days later, the other two, 19 and 20, were apprehended in Chicago. All three suspects were convicted of Officer Reagan's murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life plus 15 years in prison. One was convicted of injuring a guard in 2004 and got an additional sentence. As of May 2008, he was in prison. As of October 16, 2022, another was still in prison. He has a parole hearing on May 15, 2023. Officer Reagan had been with the Milwaukee Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-CE715451
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.
Police Officer Reagan gave the Milwaukee Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Reagan.

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

Agency

Department Milwaukee Police Department

Location Milwaukee, WI

Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1973

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Ronald Patrick Reagan 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.

Milwaukee Police Department

of 69 officers

60.9% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious