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Inspector

Kenneth G. Ward

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1979

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Inspector Kenneth Ward was shot and killed at the United States Port of Entry in Lynden, Washington. Two subjects had been sent inside the border station for secondary screening after showing signs of deception. Unbeknownst to Inspector Ward and the other inspector who was working, the two were members of a radical group associated with the Symbionese Liberation Army. As Inspector Ward attempted to pat down the male subject he suddenly drew a .45 caliber handgun and shot Inspector Ward in the chest. The man then shot at the other inspector as both subjects fled to their car. A DEA agent who was inside of the border station heard the shots and was able to follow the vehicle as it fled. The shooter and his wife, both 26, were arrested the following day just east of Lynden. The shooter had escaped from a California Prison where he was serving a sentence for the 1972 murders of an elderly couple. On September 19, 1979, the shooter was convicted of Inspector Ward's murder. On October 14, 1979, while awaiting to be sentenced he and six others attempted to escape from the King County Jail. One was shot and killed as the escape was stopped. The next day he was sentenced to life for Inspector Ward's murder plus 11 years for escape and assaulting a federal officer the day before. On December 3, 1979, his wife was convicted of being an accessory after the fact and sentenced to 15 years. Both were sent to Federal Prisons. As of 2022 the man is in Sacramento State Prison. In 1987 the United States Congress authorized the naming of a Customs House after Inspector Ward.

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Added to badge.nw: 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.
Inspector Ward served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Ward.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1979

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Incident Location WA

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Kenneth 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Kenneth was 34. 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

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

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