Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi
End of Watch: Friday, October 28, 1988
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 22 years
Badge Number: U-3
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: October 28, 1988
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Ralph Newell was killed when his patrol car struck the back of a tractor-trailer that was crossing the highway while driving en route to Jackson, Mississippi, on Highway 49. Low visibility due to fog was a contributing factor in the crash.
Sergeant Newell was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol for 22 years, assigned to Troop J. He was survived by his wife, daughter, two stepsons, mother, two brothers, and there sisters.
A portion of Highway 49 in Covington County was dedicated to Staff Sergeant Newell on October 18, 2007.