Niagara Falls Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 10, 1917
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 8 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 10, 1917
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1929
Patrolman John Ratkay was shot and killed while he was attempting to break up a disorderly group at 135 11th Street (near present-day Memorial Parkway & Buffalo Avenue). Patrolman Ratkay had been assigned to a special detail aimed at eliminating "Disorderly Houses" which had been operating in this area for some time. The suspect, who was a target of the police cleanup, was arrested a few hours later at a house on 20th Street.
The 33-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years. He was paroled in 1929. He was sent to the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1931 for a narcotics conviction. He was paroled 19 months later. In 1933 he violated his parole and remained a large until captured in Connecticut in 1940.
Patrolman Ratkay had been with the agency for 8 months and had previously served with the United States Marine Corps. He was survived by his wife, parents, and two sisters.