James
Patrick Ratican
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 5 November 1925, page 1
Fellow officers will escort the body of their comrade, James Patrick Ratican, 55, 515 W Fifth st. Newport, patrolman to his grave Saturday morning. Requiem high mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, Newport, at 9 am. Burial will be in St Stephen Cemetery.
Ratican dropped dead while in the grocery store of E C Wilson, 215 E Lynn st. Covington, Wednesday afternoon. Dr. David W Stephens, Kenton co. coroner, returned a verdict of death due to heart disease. The Newport officer had patrolled his beat in the West end, said to be one of the most dangerous beats in the city until 7 am Wednesday. He went off duty at that time and was to have reported again at 11 pm Wednesday night.
Wednesday afternoon he called on Wilson. Ratican had been in the store only a few minutes Wilson told Coroner Stephens, when he collapsed. A physician was summoned but the officer was dead when he arrived. Ratican, who was known to his friends as "Pat" served 28 years on the Newport police force. He is survived by his widow.