Manhattan Police Department, Kansas
End of Watch: Sunday, March 10, 1918
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: March 10, 1918
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Set free in 1923
Officer Ross was killed when he was assaulted while attempting to arrest a man for drunk in public in a city park in Aggieville. During the arrest one of the man's friends attacked Officer Ross and beat him severely. Officer Ross succumbed to his wounds before arriving at the local hospital.
Officer Ross' killer was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life, the first man convicted of murder in the first degree in Riley County. He was set free on June 21, 1923. The killer was related to two ex-governors, one from Kansas, and the other from Nebraska. Citizens of Kansas and of our country were outraged.