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Incident
Trooper Richard Gaston was killed when his patrol car was struck from behind by a semitrailer while he was conducting a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road at milepost 77 in St. Joseph County.
Trooper Gaston, sitting in the driver's seat, was killed instantly, and his field training officer was seriously injured in the accident. After the semitrailer struck their patrol car, it jack-knifed and struck the vehicle that had been stopped, killing a man and a child inside.
The driver of the truck that struck the patrol car was charged with 13 offenses stemming from the accident. The offenses included possession of drug paraphernalia, driving within 72 hours after consumption of cocaine, and a federal weapons charge for possession of a handgun within the cab. In a plea agreement, the driver pleaded guilty to three counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, causing death. He served 6½ years of a 14-year sentence and was released from prison in September 2005.
Trooper Gaston was the first of three troopers in 10 months to be killed in the line of duty from the 56th ISP Recruit Academy, which graduated in December 1998. He was a roommate of Trooper Cory Elson, who was killed in the line of duty on April 3, 1999.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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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.
Trooper Gaston served with the Indiana State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard Terrell Gaston served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Indiana State Police has lost 46 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
Richard is one of 310 officers killed feloniously in IN, 61.6% of the 503 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Richard is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 2 officers at Indiana State Police were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1999, 2 officers in IN were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 122 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 9.
In 1999, 58 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 133rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1999, 61 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 132nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard was 29. Of the 21 killed feloniously at Indiana State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 31. Richard had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 7.5 years.
Richard was 29. Of the 299 killed feloniously in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Richard was 29. 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. Richard had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard was 29. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 23.8% of these deaths at Indiana State Police, more than any other month. Thursdays: 23.8%.
March holds 10% of these deaths in IN; January holds the most, 11%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 45.7% of all 46 deaths at Indiana State Police, the 2nd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 61.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Indiana State Police has 46 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Eugene Teague
Dec 20, 1933
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Paul Vincent Minneman
May 27, 1937
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William Raymond Dixon
Jun 28, 1938
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George August Forster
May 17, 1941
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Richard F. England
Apr 22, 1942
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Herbert Wade Smith
Dec 5, 1946
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Robert Earl Clevenger
Sep 8, 1953
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Hubert C. Roush
Jan 26, 1955
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Earl LeRoy Brown
Aug 31, 1955
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John Raymond Miller
Sep 5, 1955
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Donald Raymond Turner
Jan 28, 1956
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Marvin Edward Walts
Mar 18, 1957
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William Rae Kellems
Sep 30, 1957
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John Henry Powell
Feb 27, 1959
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Robert Jack Garrison
Dec 14, 1959
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Robert Craig Gillespie
Jun 8, 1962
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William Frederick Kieser
Mar 9, 1965
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Oscar Eugene Mills
Apr 12, 1966
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William R. Rayner
Dec 18, 1966
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Richard Gerald Brown
Sep 27, 1967
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Robert Otto Lietzan
Mar 30, 1969
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George William Campbell
Jun 18, 1969
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John Joseph Streu
Feb 20, 1971
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Glen Russell Hosier
Apr 26, 1971
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William Joseph Trees
Jun 26, 1972
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Lawrence Bernard Meyer
Feb 2, 1974
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Lewis Edward Phillips
Apr 16, 1975
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Roy Edman Jones
Jul 3, 1979
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Robert John Lather, II
Jul 6, 1982
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Steven Lester Bailey
Dec 10, 1983
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John Edward Hatfull
Apr 13, 1987
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Michael Earl Greene
Feb 5, 1993
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Todd Allen Burman
Jul 29, 1993
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Andrew Patrick Winzenread
Apr 25, 1997
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James Patrick Bartram
Mar 31, 1998
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David Anthony Deuter
Jul 16, 1998
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Richard Terrell Gaston
Mar 4, 1999
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Cory Raymond Elson
Apr 3, 1999
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Jason Eric Beal
Jan 15, 2000
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Scott Alan Patrick
Dec 22, 2003
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Gary Edward Dudley
Aug 22, 2006
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David Edward Rich
Jul 5, 2007
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Daniel Roy Barrett
Jan 27, 2008
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Peter Richard Stephan
Oct 11, 2019
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James R. Bailey
Mar 3, 2023
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Aaron N. Smith
Jun 28, 2023
Where
Military Service
Richard Terrell Gaston served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Richard Terrell Gaston’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
45 officers from Indiana State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
