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FCPO Co-Founder Ralph Evans Passes Away

Mar 10, 2023

He and Karl Traber Established the Foundation of FCPO



Ralph Evans, one of the co-founders of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers, passed away May 3 at his home in Reseda, CA.


Ralph was born on October 24, 1936 and lived in a variety of places across the U.S. While living in Hawaii at age 5, he witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which had a great influence on his life. Coming to Christ as a teenager, he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve after graduating from Canoga Park High School. Around this time, he married his sweetheart, Joyce, whom he had attended church with for several years, and 3 children were added to the family.

Ralph joined the LAPD in 1961 and served for 20 years, rising to the rank of Sergeant. In 1971, Ralph and Karl Traber, also an LAPD officer, attended a Bible seminar in Long Beach, CA, unbeknownst to each other. 


While there, studying the Word, Karl recognized Ralph, but not just Ralph. Almost a dozen other LAPD officers were there, too! These men were all surprised to find they weren't alone as Christians in law enforcement. They understood that, if they were going to be successful in serving Christ and the badge every day, they needed God's help and they needed each other. 


Through this encounter, this small group committed to a weekly Bible study and prayer time, meeting in homes in a Los Angeles suburb, planting the seeds that would eventually grow to be the ministry of The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers.


Initially taking the role of the organization's Secretary, with Karl Traber serving as its first President, Ralph served the Lord with FCPO in a number of capacities from the 1970s, including terms as FCPO's Director of Publications, Vice President, President, and Executive Director, into the mid 1990s.

In later years, Ralph served the Lord through his church, The Bridge Bible Fellowship in Reseda, in many capacities including as a youth worker, deacon, elder, and co-chairman of the church's missions committee. He also participated in 3 short-term mission trips to Russia. He had recently been caring for his wife Joyce in her final illness. Joyce passed away only weeks before Ralph, on April 9 at the age of 83.


Only eternity will reveal the broad scope of the impact Ralph's life made for Christ through his early leadership roles with FCPO, his service with his church, mission trips he participated in, and other personal interactions. Please remember Ralph's family and friends in prayer.

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