Ronald Lawrence Ball
Agency patch
Police Officer

Ronald Lawrence Ball

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch February 8, 1986
Age 43
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Badge 5711
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Ronald Ball and Detective Arleigh McCree were killed while attempting to defuse two booby-trapped pipe bombs. The officers, both members of the Bomb Squad, were called to a home that was being searched in connection with a shooting. The officers conducting the search located the two pipe bombs in a garage and called the Bomb Squad to the scene. While examining the devices, the officers determined they were booby-trapped and moved all of the other officers away from the scene. As Detective McCree and Officer Ball attempted to defuse the bombs, they detonated, killing Detective McCree instantly and fatally wounding Officer Ball, who succumbed to the wounds at a local hospital several hours later. Officer Ball served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 17 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Ball gave the Los Angeles Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ball.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 8, 1986
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 5711
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Explosives

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Ronald is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1986, 98 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 54th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ronald was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ronald had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 explosives, in 0.3% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Ronald Lawrence Ball

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch February 8, 1986

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E

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