Louisville Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 30, 1969
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 30, 1969
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Patrolman Donald Gaskin and Detective James Ratliff were shot and killed when they responded to a robbery call at a local grocery store at 2328 Osage Avenue.
Two suspects were inside the store when Patrolman Gaskin arrived at the scene. The suspect ordered the store clerk to open the door, and as Patrolman Gaskin entered, he was shot by the suspect.
Detective Ratliff and his partner arrived just as Patrolman Gaskin was shot. As the detectives ran for cover, another shot was fired and struck Detective Ratliff.
During an ensuing shootout, two other officers and the two suspects were wounded. Patrolman Gaskin succumbed to his wounds before reaching the hospital. Detective Ratliff succumbed to his injuries approximately five hours later during surgery.
Both suspects were convicted of both murders and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to life. In 1980, they were paroled with the condition that they never return to Jefferson County.
Patrolman Gaskin was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Louisville Police Department for six years. He was survived by his brother.