Ralph R. Miller
Agency: Agency: Kansas City Police Department, MO
Officer Ralph R. Miller was known as an excellent athlete and a member of the Rockhurst College football team. He also won the Missouri Valley A.A.U. heavyweight boxing title in 1937 - advancing to the national semi-finals. Officer Miller joined the Kansas City Police Department on February 27, 1940 and served for 22 months.
On December 27th, 1941, Officer Miller was traveling north on Prospect on his motorcycle, while pursuing a car that he and Officer Cecil Harris had clocked five blocks south at 64 miles per hour. Officer Miller entered the intersection of 39th Street and Prospect Avenue, operating his siren, when a car entered the intersection the motorcycle struck the front fender of the car and the impact hurled Officer Miller and his motorcycle 25 feet in the air and onto a traffic light standard. Officer Miller was killed instantly. Officer Harris traveling a block and a half behind Officer Miller was able to describe the speeding car but it left the scene. The driver of the car later stated that he had not heard the siren.
He was survived by his wife, Eva Louise, and an infant son.
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