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James Riley Ratliff
Agency patch
Detective

James Riley Ratliff

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
United States flag Kentucky flag
End of Watch December 30, 1969
Age 47
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 90

Incident

Detective James Ratliff and Patrolman Donald Gaskin were shot and killed when they responded to a robbery call at a local grocery store at 2328 Osage Avenue. Two suspects were inside the store when Patrolman Gaskin arrived at the scene. The suspect ordered the store clerk to open the door, and as Patrolman Gaskin entered, he was shot by the suspect. Detective Ratliff and his partner arrived just as Patrolman Gaskin was shot. As the detectives ran for cover, another shot was fired and struck Detective Ratliff. During an ensuing shootout, two other officers and the two suspects were wounded. Patrolman Gaskin succumbed to his wounds before reaching the hospital. Detective Ratliff succumbed to his injuries approximately five hours later during surgery. Both suspects were convicted of both murders and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to life. In 1980, they were paroled with the condition that they never return to Jefferson County. Detective Ratliff had served with the Louisville Police Department for 23 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

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

23 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Ratliff gave the Louisville Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Ratliff.

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

Agency

Department Louisville Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1969
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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 1969, 124 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 47. 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. James had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective James Riley Ratliff

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch December 30, 1969

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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