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Sergeant

James E. Richardson Jr.

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 19, 1980

Age 34

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 8003

The Vigil Panel 270 · Column 4 · Line 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Also Remembered Department 87

Incident

Sergeant James Richardson was shot and killed during a traffic stop at McDaniel and Peters Streets. Sergeant Richardson, while undercover driving an unmarked car, had stopped the vehicle after witnessing the two occupants harassing a female gas station attendant. After stopping the vehicle he spoke to the driver who had gotten out and as he returned to his car to run his license, the passenger got out and shot him. This was witnessed by the patrons of a restaurant across the street from where the stop occurred. The vehicle they were driving was stolen from a couple they had abducted and robbed. The couple escaped, but not before being fired upon. The shooter was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Sergeant Richardson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War.

Survivors

He had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 10 years and was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Richardson gave the Atlanta Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 19, 1980

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 8003

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

James E. Richardson Jr. served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

James was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded