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Ronald E. Ludlow
Deputy Sheriff

Ronald E. Ludlow

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department — Monterey Park, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch August 13, 1965
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 100 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 119

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ronald Ludlow was shot and killed during the Watts Riots in Los Angeles. He and other deputies were at the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and Imperial Highway attempting to disperse a crowd from a liquor store that had been looted and set on fire. Shots were fired at the deputies as they attempted to protect the store. A car pulled up to the store and another deputy pointed his shotgun at the vehicle while ordering the car to leave the area. One of the men in the vehicle grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and during the struggle, the weapon discharged hitting Deputy Ludlow in the stomach. Deputy Ludlow was placed in a patrol car and died while being transported to a local hospital. Deputy Ludlow was the first fatality of the Watts Riots. As a result of the riots, the Los Angeles Police Department formed the world's first modern-day SWAT team. The man who murdered him was convicted of murder but was subsequently acquitted after appealing the conviction. Deputy Ludlow had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for just shy of 4 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ludlow served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ludlow.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Type Other
Location Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lacso.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 13, 1965
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ronald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1965, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ronald was 26. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's shotgun, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Ronald E. Ludlow

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch August 13, 1965

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-E

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