Elmer Stephenson

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, IN

Felonious

End of Watch July 8, 1916

Age 45

The Vigil Panel 31 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Elmer Stephenson and Patrolman George Little were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect for being intoxicated in public at the local railroad station. Unbeknownst to the officers, the man had just attempted to murder his boss. When the officers arrived they were both shot. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Little and a railroad employee were able to subdue the man. Five days later the suspect pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 1954 and died in 1956.

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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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Stephenson served with the Richmond Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Stephenson.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Richmond, Wayne County, IN

Platform Identity rpd.wayne.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 8, 1916

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman Elmer Stephenson 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Richmond Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

IN — Statewide

311

of 503 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious