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Incident
Deputy Ralph Butler was killed when his patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer on U.S. 60 about 12 miles west of Wickenburg. Deputy Butler received a radio call for assistance at the scene of a fatal crash. After turning his car around off the pavement, he pulled back on the road directly in the path of a large tractor-trailer. The impact caused him to become pinned in the wreckage. It took more than 1-1/2 hours for an ambulance to respond from Phoenix because the local emergency vehicles were at the scene of the original crash 25 miles away. Deputy Butler was transported to a hospital in Wickenburg before being flown to Phoenix for surgery. He succumbed to his injuries the following evening. Deputy Butler had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for six years. He was survived by his wife and two children. His father served as a police officer for the Wickenburg Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two 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.
Deputy Butler gave the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Butler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has lost 28 officers; 10 of them lost to accidents.
Ralph is one of 95 officers lost to accidents in AZ, 28.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1972, 1 officer at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1972, 1 officer in AZ was lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1973, with 5.
In 1972, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1972, 98 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ralph was 31. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 45; the middle age was 39. Ralph had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 31. Of the 92 lost to accidents in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 34.5. Ralph had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Ralph was 31. 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 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ralph was 31. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ralph had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 10% of these deaths at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office; November holds the most, 20%. Mondays: 40%.
June holds 10.5% of these deaths in AZ; November holds the most, 14.7%. Mondays: 18.9%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.4%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 35.7% of all 28 deaths at Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, 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 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has 28 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.
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Kurtz Fickas
Nov 17, 1916
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Almon W. Dana Apr 9, 1922
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Robert Lee Wright Jan 29, 1930
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Edward J. Roberts
Jul 21, 1937
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Burtice W. Wickstrum
Jan 8, 1951
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Gerald Barnes
Oct 5, 1957
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Robert L. Dorn
Aug 31, 1965
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Warren LaRue
Jan 18, 1971
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Rex Atwood Stone
Jan 18, 1971
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Ralph K. Butler
Jun 12, 1972
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James L. Epp
Mar 1, 1978
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Darrell Dean McCloud
May 13, 1985
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Vernon P. Marconnet
Jun 30, 1988
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Patrick Joseph Riley
Mar 11, 1994
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Edwardo M. Gonzales
Aug 28, 1995
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Kenneth Ray Blair
Sep 28, 1995
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Gary Frederick Labenz
Oct 10, 2005
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William Hauley Coleman
Jan 8, 2012
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David William Wargo, Jr.
May 1, 2012
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Gene Wade Lee
Oct 30, 2019
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Ernest Quintero
Jul 6, 2020
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Kevin Joseph Fletcher
Jul 6, 2020
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Miroslaw Mroczkowski
Jul 15, 2020
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Alicia Dawn Carter
Aug 9, 2021
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Kendall Leroy Thomas
Sep 10, 2021
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Juan Miguel Ruiz
Oct 11, 2021
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Chad Owen Brackman
Nov 10, 2021
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Shawn A. Braaten
Dec 16, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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