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Incident
Trooper Ralph Tatoian was killed when his patrol car struck the back of a truck on I-44, west of St. Louis, Missouri, at approximately 4:30 am.
The trooper was responding to a search for a person suspected of shooting a sheriff's deputy in Gasconade County. Trooper Tatoian's patrol car slammed into the back of the tractor-trailer, which was pulled partially off of the highway to assist with a previous accident.
The suspect who had shot the sheriff's deputy was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Trooper Tatoian's death.
Trooper Tatoian had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 9.5 years.
Survivors
He is 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.
Trooper Tatoian gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Tatoian.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Missouri State Highway Patrol has lost 33 officers; 18 of them lost to accidents.
Ralph is one of 242 officers lost to accidents in MO, 29.2% of the 829 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2005, 3 officers at Missouri State Highway Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2005, 4 officers in MO were lost to accidents, the 7th heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 8.
In 2005, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2005, 87 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 43rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ralph was 32. Of the 18 lost to accidents at Missouri State Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 26.8 and 41; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 9.5 years; the middle length of service was 13 years.
Ralph was 32. Of the 226 lost to accidents in MO whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 42; the middle age was 33. Ralph had served 9.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Ralph was 32. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 9.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 32. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 9.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 5.6% of these deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 22.2%. Wednesdays: 16.7%.
April holds 5.4% of these deaths in MO; August holds the most, 12.8%. Wednesdays: 17.4%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 54.5% of all 33 deaths at Missouri State Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.2% of all 829 deaths in MO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Missouri State Highway Patrol has 33 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.
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Benjamin Oliver Booth
Jun 14, 1933
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Fred L. Walker
Dec 3, 1941
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Victor O. Dosing
Dec 7, 1941
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Charles P. Corbin
Sep 15, 1943
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Ross S. Creach
Dec 12, 1943
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John N. Greim
Jul 13, 1945
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Wayne W. Allman
Oct 27, 1955
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Jesse Roger Jenkins
Oct 14, 1969
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Gary Wayne Snodgrass
Feb 21, 1970
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William R. Brandt
Jun 12, 1970
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Dennis Harris Marriott
Jun 13, 1981
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James M. Froemsdorf
Mar 2, 1985
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Jimmie Elliott Linegar
Apr 15, 1985
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Russell Wynn Harper
Feb 8, 1987
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Henry Corwin Bruns
Feb 16, 1987
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Robert Joseph Kolilis
Sep 21, 1988
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Michael Elliott Webster
Oct 2, 1993
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Randy Vincent Sullivan
Feb 17, 1996
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David Cargene May
May 17, 1999
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Robert Gene Kimberling
Oct 6, 1999
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Robert Alton Guilliams
Feb 16, 2001
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Kelly Leland Poynter
Jan 18, 2002
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Michael Lynn Newton
May 22, 2003
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Carl Dewayne Graham, Jr.
Mar 20, 2005
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Ralph Charles Tatoian
Apr 20, 2005
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John Anthony Sampietro, Jr.
Aug 17, 2005
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Donald Kevin Floyd
Sep 22, 2005
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Dennis Edward Engelhard
Dec 25, 2009
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Joseph George Schuengel
Oct 15, 2010
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Frederick Freeman Guthrie, Jr.
Aug 1, 2011
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James Matthew Bava
Aug 28, 2015
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Myron Downey
Sep 29, 2020
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Lonnie Raymond Lejeune
Dec 10, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Missouri State Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
