Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Forrest Richards suffered a fatal heart attack while chasing a drunk driver. Undersheriff Richards had just arrested the man when the suspect fled. After chasing him approximately 100 feet, Undersheriff Richards collapsed. The subject was apprehended a short time later. He was charged with reckless driving, drunk driving, and escape from custody. Undersheriff Richards was a United States World War II Army veteran who had served with the Butler County Sheriff's Office for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, two brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-51597A8F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Undersheriff Richards gave the Butler County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Dorado 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Forrest E. Richards served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Undersheriff Forrest E. Richards is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KS, 15 of 335 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.5 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Butler County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Forrest E. Richards's cause is highlighted.
How Forrest E. Richards Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Forrest E. Richards is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Butler County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
