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Ronald Owen MacDonald
Incident
Correctional Officer Ronald MacDonald succumbed to injuries sustained six months earlier when he fell from a ladder at Camp Ottawa.
He was supervising a prison work crew that was cleaning snow off of a rooftop in the prison compound. As Officer MacDonald stepped from the ladder to the roof, the ladder slipped, and he fell 20 feet to the ground. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained until succumbing to his injuries, having never regained consciousness.
Officer MacDonald had served with the Michigan Department of Corrections for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Correctional Officer MacDonald gave the Michigan Department of Corrections 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer MacDonald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Michigan Department of Corrections has lost 15 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Ronald is one of 224 officers lost to accidents in MI, 31.9% of the 703 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2001, 1 officer at Michigan Department of Corrections was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 4 years on record. The heaviest was 1967, with 2.
In 2001, 2 officers in MI were lost to accidents, the 33rd heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 8.
In 2001, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2001, 89 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ronald was 40. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Michigan Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 57; the middle age was 48. Ronald had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Ronald was 40. Of the 212 lost to accidents in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43; the middle age was 34. Ronald had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ronald was 40. 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. Ronald had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ronald was 40. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ronald had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 20% of these deaths at Michigan Department of Corrections; March holds the most, 60%. Sundays: 20%.
July holds 11.2% of these deaths in MI; August holds the most, 14.3%. Sundays: 13.8%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 15 deaths at Michigan Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 703 deaths in MI, 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 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Michigan Department of Corrections has 15 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.
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George W. Haight
Mar 27, 1893
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George Ferris
Jun 16, 1908
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Fred Menhennett
Dec 12, 1921
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Theodore Catlin
Jan 26, 1922
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Leon M. Sammons May 7, 1928
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Fred Boucher
Nov 5, 1939
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Bernard Fancher
Apr 28, 1960
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Joe D. Crater
Mar 31, 1967
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Max M. Hinckley
Mar 31, 1967
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Earl F. DeMarse
Sep 25, 1973
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Josephine Birdene McCallum
Mar 24, 1987
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Jack L. Budd
Dec 27, 1987
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Ronald Owen MacDonald
Jul 8, 2001
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Joseph Tyrone Candie
Dec 19, 2007
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Chad Alan Charles
May 21, 2014
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Michigan Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
