Ray Melvin Lazear

Wheeling Police Department — Wheeling, WV

Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 1925

Age 24

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman Lazear was shot and killed by a homeowner who mistook him for a robbery suspect at 3 Pike Street. The man had been robbed at his home by two suspects and called police. When Patrolman Lazear responded to the scene he began to open the home's door but was shot by the homeowner. Patrolman Lazear served with the Wheeling Police Department for two years and was recently engaged to be married

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-6451E440
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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.
Patrolman Lazear gave the Wheeling Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wheeling community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Lazear.

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

Agency

Department Wheeling Police Department

Location Wheeling, WV

Platform Identity wpd.ohio.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1925

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Not available

Patrolman Ray Melvin Lazear 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wheeling Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Wheeling Police Department

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious