Gerald Irving Richardson
Superintendent

Gerald Irving Richardson

Lancashire Constabulary — Preston, ENG
Felonious
End of Watch August 23, 1971
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 191 ›
Gender Male

Incident

After assisting in a car chase of five robbers, Superintendent Richardson then chased one of them as the gang split up and attempted to escape on foot. He tackled the robber and tried to persuade him to surrender his weapon but was shot twice in the stomach at point-blank range and died of his injuries later that day at the Victoria Hospital, Blackpool.

Posthumously awarded the George Cross for Gallantry.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-LAC-863DD1FA
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Superintendent Richardson served with the Lancashire Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Superintendent Richardson.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Preston, ENG
Platform Identity lco.lan.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1971
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Superintendent Gerald Irving Richardson 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Lancashire Constabulary, 21 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 17.2% of this agency's fallen.

Lancashire Constabulary
21
of 122 officers
17.2% Felonious
ENG — Statewide
702
of 2,827 officers
24.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald Irving Richardson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Gerald Irving Richardson Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald Irving Richardson is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909