West Liberty Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch Friday, June 29, 1962
Add to My HeroesSherman Monroe Ricketts
Marshal Sherman Ricketts was shot and killed in front of the Presbyterian Church after responding to a call to check a man walking on Reynolds Street at 2:45 a.m. The suspect opened fire as soon as he approached him. Before dying, the marshal returned fire, hitting the suspect three times.
The suspect, a 25-year-old Michigan parole violator, had broken into nearby residences. He was convicted of Marshal Ricketts' murder and sentenced to life in prison on November 8, 1962. He was denied parole in April 2019. As of 2020, he remained in the Ohio Penitentiary as Ohio's longest-serving inmate. He died in prison in 2021.
Marshall Rickets had served with the West Liberty Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Bio
- Age 63
- Tour 5 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber
- Offender Died in prison
Most Recent Reflection
View all 17 ReflectionsNEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Marshal Sherman W. Ricketts of the West Liberty Police Department, Ohio and the additional 55 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.
Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
June 29, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd
Wake County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: August 11, 2022
Corporal Chad M. Beattie
Washington County Sheriff's Office, PA
EOW: August 10, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery
El Paso County Sheriff's Office, CO
EOW: August 7, 2022
Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan
District of Columbia Public Library Office of Public Safety, DC
EOW: August 4, 2022
Sergeant Jèan-Harold Astree
Fairburn Police Department, GA
EOW: July 28, 2022
Sergeant Matthew Fishman
Wayne County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: August 2, 2022
Supervising Fire Marshal John Joseph "Jack" McCauley
New York City Fire Department - Bureau of Fire Investigation, NY
EOW: May 28, 2022
Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz
Elwood Police Department, IN
EOW: July 31, 2022
Deputy Sheriff II Jamie Lynn Reynolds
Spalding County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: July 31, 2022