Editor’s note: This article was first published on the Christian County Headliner website on Thursday, Feb. 26. It has since been updated to include events that have transpired since that time.
The Christian County Sheriff’s Office is in mourning following the loss of two deputy sheriffs who were recently killed in the line of duty. Deputy Gabriel Ramirez, 30, was shot and killed on Monday, Feb. 23, in a traffic stop after he pulled over a truck being driven by Richard Dean Bird, 45. Later, around midnight of Tuesday, Feb. 24, Deputy Michael Hislope, 40, was killed in a gunbattle with Bird while trying to come to the aid of two other deputies who had also been wounded.
On Feb. 23, Ramirez stopped Bird near the intersection of US-160 and Glossip Ave. in Highlandville. Later, while speaking at the Ozark Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Brad Cole, Christian County sheriff, said that Ramirez pulled Bird over because Bird had passed a school bus at a high rate of speed while it was stopped to let off children.
"(Bird) flew past a school bus, and Deputy Ramirez was trying to get him stopped afterwards, (because) he ... could have taken a child's life from running a school bus that was stopped. So, (Ramirez) was definitely doing what we do out there, protecting the children and our citizens. So, I don't have to tell you this, but he's definitely a hero for what he did and trying to save the lives of those kids that day."
During the traffic stop, Bird shot Ramirez, who was found dead at the scene by other deputy sheriffs. Using detective work, they determined that Bird was the driver of the truck that Ramriez had stopped.
“Through law enforcement resources, responding deputies were able to obtain the last license plate that was checked by Deputy Ramirez,” Captain Colton Craig, of the Christian County Sheriff's Office, said. “Deputies were able to obtain the registered owner’s information and develop a suspect quickly.”
The truck was found abandoned in the Reeds Spring area. During a press conference that was held at the Ozark Square on Feb. 24, Cole said that Bird was located in a wooded area at the 2500 block of Highway 160/248 through the use of resources provided by different law enforcement agencies.
“We had aircraft from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, (with) which we utilized the FLIR system, as well as multiple drones from multiple agencies that were equipped with the same type of technology,” he said. “When we … were able to launch those resources, very quickly, within just a couple minutes, (we) did locate a heat signature and the Highway Patrol aircraft was able to establish that it was a person, and ultimately it was the suspect that we had located from the air.”
About 150 law enforcement officers from various agencies took part in the manhunt to locate Bird. When the officers approached the area Bird was hiding, Cole said, he began opening fire. Bird was eventually killed as law enforcement returned fire.
“There was attempted communication with no response from (Bird) other than him shooting at us,” Cole said. “That was his basic response.”
In the gunfire, Christian County Deputy Joshua Wahl and Webster County Deputy Austin McCall were seriously injured. Cole said they were taken to a hospital, underwent surgery, and were in stable condition.
Tributes, honors for fallen deputies:
Hours after the deputies were killed, many people, businesses and organizations began paying their respects.
U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison honored the deputies on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by paying tribute to their courage.
“I rise today to honor the lives of Deputy Michael Hislope and Deputy Gabriel Ramirez of the Christian County Sheriff's Office,” he said, “who yesterday were killed in the line of duty while serving the people of Southwest Missouri. Deputy Ramirez was murdered during a traffic stop while doing what law enforcement officers across this country do every day, protecting the public and enforcing the law. He was a United States Army veteran who continued his service at home, serving nearly one year as a deputy. What followed was a dangerous manhunt that stretched through the night and ended near Reed Spring, where Deputy Hislope was killed while helping bring the violence to an end. Deputy Hislope was also a United States Army veteran and had served his country as a deputy for more than six years.
“Two other deputies were also shot, and countless officers placed themselves in harm's way to protect others. Their courage and sacrifice stand in stark contrast to the evil that that they confronted. Today, we grieve for two families who have lost sons husbands and brothers, and we honor public servants who answered the call to stand between danger and their neighbors.”
After speaking on the House floor, Burlison requested a moment of silence for the deputies.
Mo. Gov. Mike Kehoe issued a proclamation ordering United States and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff in Christian and Greene counties, as well as all police stations and sheriff’s offices in Missouri, the general and headquarters for the Missouri State Highway Patrol from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Feb. 28, the day of the deputies’ funeral.
“Bravery, dedication to duty, and service to others defined these fine men, who each defended our nation as soldiers before selflessly serving Christian County as deputy sheriffs,” Kehoe was quoted as saying in a press release announcing the proclamation. “Sadly, these courageous heroes lost their lives because of an evil, violent, career criminal who should not have been free to commit these heinous crimes. Claudia and I are keeping both families, the Christian County Sheriff's Office, and the entire law enforcement community in our prayers during this difficult time. Ramirez’s and Hislope’s legacies will not be forgotten.
"We appreciate the collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in assisting with this horrible situation. But through this tragedy, we saw law enforcement from across the region come together to ensure justice was served. We must stand with the men and women who continue to put themselves in harm's way to protect and serve their communities.”
Jarad Giddens, mayor of Nixa, and Don Currence, mayor of Ozark, also both issued similar proclamations calling for flags to be flown at half-staff in their respective cities.
The deputies were also honored locally. Their patrol vehicles were placed on the square as part of a memorial, and within hours, mourners had placed hundreds of flower bouquets and other mementos on them. A bagpiper with the Southwest Missouri Pipes and Drums, who declined to give his name, played a lament at the memorial.
Additionally, various businesses took up collections for the officers’ families, held fundraisers, or offered their services to law enforcement officers for free. Many people posted their condolences on social media. Also, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, a silent prayer vigil was held at the deputies’ memorial.
Gov. Kehoe praises courage of area law enforcement:
Gov. Kehoe attended the Feb. 23 press conference and praised the courage and team work that law enforcement displayed in the face of the danger they were facing.
“When it comes to a situation like this,” he said, “there's no color of shirts that matter. They're all the same team. They're all one family. And you saw … these agencies working together. Federal, state agencies, (and) other sheriff departments, (made) an incredible effort to make sure justice was served.
“And I can tell you that every sheriff standing next to me and behind me, I know personally, outside of their office, and these are good men who've hard-earned their communities’ (respect) and have a tough job every day, keeping their streets safe. Our community should be thankful that we have people that run in when everybody else is running away. And I'm grateful for the interoperability. I'm grateful to Highway Patrol's assets that were deployed, as well as all of our other partners that the sheriff mentioned. We're grateful for that collaboration.”
Deputies laid to rest with honors:
Visitation for Deputies Ramirez and Hislope took place at the James River Church in Ozark on Friday, Feb. 27, and funeral services were held at the church on Feb. 28. The deputies received full military honors.
Several people spoke about the two men during the service. One of them was Sheriff Brad Cole. In the eulogy he gave the two men, he said that the sheriff’s office would continue to serve the community as they always have.
“We will heal,” he said. “Maybe not completely, but we will heal. We will remain vigilant, and we will honor their names by continuing the work that they loved.”
Cole also told their wives and children that they were part of a bigger family.
“You are now, and forever will be, part of our Sheriff’s Office family,” he said. “We cannot replace what you have lost, but we’ll walk beside you every step of the way.”
Finally, Cole gave the men their final order, to go to their rest.
“Mike, Gabe, you finished this race, you’ve kept the faith,” he said. “You’ve protected this county with every fiber of your being. And as your sheriff, I’m giving you your final orders. Go home to the Lord. Find your rest, and greener pastures. We’ll take the watch from here. God bless you.”
Following the service, the bodies of the two men were escorted to the Greenlawn Funeral Home in Ozark, escorted by a motorcade spanning an estimated 550 law enforcement and other first-responder vehicles. As they drove to the funeral home, mourners gathered along the roadside to pay their respects, many waving American and Thin Blue Line police flags as they passed.
Opportunities to support the families of the fallen deputies:
For those who would like to directly contribute to the families of the fallen deputies, the Christian County Deputy Sheriffs Association has established an official fund. Donations can be sent via Venmo at https://venmo.com/u/ChristianCoDeputySheriffAssoc. The Christian County 100 Club is also accepting donations online at https://christiancounty100club.org.
The Christian County Sheriff’s Office recommended caution when making donations, as scammers have been attempting to con would-be donors.
“The Christian County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of scam attempts involving fraudulent donation requests claiming to benefit the families of our fallen deputies,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
