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Ronald D. Oliver
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Ronald D. Oliver

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN
Felonious
United States flag Tennessee flag
End of Watch August 5, 1981
Age 43
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 152
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Lieutenant Ronald Oliver was shot and killed after he and several other officers responded to a silent alarm call at Wendy's restaurant at 3275 N Thomas Street. Unknown to any of the responding officers a man armed with a .45-caliber handgun had tied up the employees and was robbing the store. When Lieutenant Oliver arrived he encountered a man exiting the building, causing the man to flee on foot. Lieutenant Oliver and a second officer who had responded pursued the suspect, catching him and tackling him to the ground. While on the ground the suspect drew his .45-caliber handgun and opened fire, killing Lieutenant Oliver and wounding the other officer. The suspect began to flee on foot when a third officer arrived and exchanged shots with him. The man then fled on foot and was apprehended about an hour later. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in May 2007. Lieutenant Oliver had served with the Memphis Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and stepson.

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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Oliver gave the Memphis Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Oliver.

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

Agency

Department Memphis Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 5, 1981
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 152
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ronald was 43. 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. Ronald had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Memphis Police Department has 94 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Lieutenant Ronald D. Oliver

Memphis Police Department · End of Watch August 5, 1981

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E

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