David W. Rickman

Roanoke City Police Department — Roanoke, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 12, 1986

Age 23

Tour of Duty 11 mo

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 14

Incident

Patrolman David Rickman was shot and killed after he and his partner responded to a domestic disturbance call at 5 a.m. The officers were in the process of arresting the female subject's ex-boyfriend when she came to the door with a handgun and discharged the weapon. The round passed through Officer Rickman's left arm and entered his chest through an opening in his vest. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The woman claimed the gun discharged accidentally. She was convicted of manslaughter and received a 10-year prison sentence. Patrolman Rickman was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Roanoke City Police Department for less than one year.

Survivors

He is survived by his son, father, mother, two brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-B0B94BEE
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. Army. One record, 2 gates. David 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.
Patrolman Rickman served with the Roanoke City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Roanoke 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 Roanoke City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Roanoke, VA

Platform Identity roanpd.roanoke.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 1986

Tour of Duty 11 mo

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

David W. Rickman served in the U.S. Army (1982â1985) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman David W. Rickman is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Roanoke City Police Department, 12 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Roanoke City Police Department

of 15 officers

80% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 655 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious