Mecklenburg County Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch Sunday, October 18, 1970
Add to My HeroesRonnie E. McGraw
Officer McGraw was shot and killed as he and other officers raided a gambling house on East Fourth Street at 0145 hours. He was shot in the chest and back as he led his officers into the home. Over $42,000 in cash, a shotgun and eight handguns were confiscated in the home and 17 suspects were arrested.
Only one suspect was charged with Officer McGraw's murder. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 27 years in prison on May 9, 1971. On August 30, 1972 he was granted a new trial because a judge ruled that the raid was conducted with an invalid search warrant. The suspect was acquitted at his new trial on January 9, 1973.
Officer McGraw had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and daughter.
Bio
- Age 25
- Tour 3 years
- Badge 31
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Apprehended
Most Recent Reflection
View all 16 ReflectionsYour death changed the way many, if not all departments in NC serve search warrants. I am perhaps one of hundreds, if not thousands, of officers alive today because of some hard lessons learned that night and in the years of trials to follow. It seems in our profession too many times there has to be "a first" to bring change in training and tactics. There was a night in a California onion field that has sparked decades of conversation between officers. There was a night in Newhall, California that not only redefined high risk vehicle stop tactics, but gave birth to the concept of "Officer Survival". Those were nights marking new beginnings in the culture of officer safety. At least for those of us in North Carolina as far as raid execution is concerned, because you were "the first" to show major flaws of our thinking, the raid you executed did not illustrate what you "should have done" but rather educated the rest of us that, going forward, "THIS is what and how we need to do". I'm sorry that you had to join the posthumous ranks of "the first", but I hope ALL of you know that generations that have come after you appreciate the legacy left us. I hope that brings you a measure of peace. Thanks.
NC Officer
October 18, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Detention Officer Jeremiah James Story
Perry County Sheriff's Office, AR
EOW: June 22, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Austin Derek Aldridge
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: June 21, 2022

Deputy Sheriff J'Mar Colin Abel
Chambers County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: June 20, 2022

Police Officer Joseph Anthony Santana
El Monte Police Department, CA
EOW: June 14, 2022

Corporal Michael Domingo Paredes
El Monte Police Department, CA
EOW: June 14, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Austin W. "Melvin" Richardson
Fremont County Sheriff's Office, IA
EOW: June 14, 2022

Correctional Officer IV Jade Drennan
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: May 19, 2022

Deputy First Class Glenn R. Hilliard
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, MD
EOW: June 12, 2022
Detective Justin Michael Terry
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NV
EOW: June 10, 2022