In the late autumn of 1995, a traffic stop on a dusty stretch of Maricopa Road ended in tragedy, claiming the life of Ak-Chin Tribal Police Sergeant Ronald Eugene Kelley. The 49-year-old male officer, a seasoned veteran with two decades of law enforcement experience, was found shot on the roadside on Monday, November 20, 1995. He was discovered still clutching the driver's license of the man who would later be convicted of his murder.
Sergeant Kelley, a U.S.
Army veteran who had been awarded a Purple Heart for his service in the Vietnam War, died while being transported to the hospital. His extensive career in law enforcement included service with the Goodyear, Kearney, Avondale, Peoria, and El Mirage police departments before he joined the Ak-Chin Tribal Police Department.
The driver's license found in Sergeant Kelley's hand proved to be the crucial piece of evidence that led investigators to the suspect. Following an investigation, the individual was apprehended, stood trial, and was ultimately convicted of murder. The court sentenced him to life in prison for the death of Sergeant Kelley. At the time of his death, Sergeant Kelley was survived by his wife and five children.
