Lawrenceburg Police Hold Headstone Commemoration for Patrolman Killed in 1961

A ceremony took place on Saturday at Greendale Cemetery.

Photo provided.

(Greendale, Ind.) - On Saturday, the City of Lawrenceburg and the Ratliff family commemorated a new headstone for Officer James C. Ratliff, who was killed in the line of duty while working for the Lawrenceburg Police Department in 1961. 

The event included a welcome message from Mayor Kelly Mollaun, an epilogue from Lawrenceburg Police Assistant Chief Brian Miller, commemoration by Chief David Schneider, and military honors from the Lawrenceburg Legion Honor Guard. 

It was February 7, 1961, when Ratliff was shot and killed while responding to an incident at the Wilson Oil Company on U.S. 50. 

According to Lawrenceburg Police, Ratliff was shot by Norman Wildridge, a Lawrenceburg plumber, who abducted his wife and Wilson Oil Company owner, Clarence Wilson. 

When Ratliff responded to Wilson Oil Company, he approached the car and was immediately struck with three bullets to the chest. He was taken to Dearborn County Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. He was 52. 

He was buried in Greendale Cemetery. He later had the road leading to the Lawrenceburg boat docks named in his honor, but the honor was taken when it was renamed Tanners Creek Drive. 

Wildridge was later indicted for 1st Degree Murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He committed suicide 18 years and one week later in 1979. He was buried in Greendale Cemetery, four sections from Patrolman Ratliff. 

Ratliff was a 20-year veteran of the LPD at the time of his death.