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Michael J. Ratikan
Agency patch
Officer

Michael J. Ratikan

Oklahoma City Police Department — Oklahoma City, OK
Felonious
United States flag Oklahoma flag
End of Watch June 14, 1971
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 32

Incident

Officer Michael Ratikan was shot and killed after he and his partner stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. During routine questioning, the driver fled on foot. Officer Ratikan caught the driver and began struggling with him as the driver's brother emerged from the car and fired a .25 caliber automatic pistol. Officer Ratikan was struck and died almost instantly. Officer Ratikan's partner returned fire as the occupants fled. The suspect initially escaped, however he was later captured. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on September 30, 1971. He died in prison on August 21, 2014.

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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.
Officer Ratikan served with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Ratikan.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma City Police Department
Type Other
Location Oklahoma City, Canadian County, OK
Platform Identity opd.oklahoma.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1971
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
III

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
IV

His people

Oklahoma City Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years

Officer Michael J. Ratikan

Oklahoma City Police Department · End of Watch June 14, 1971

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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