Gethin G. Richards

Akron Police Department — Akron, OH

Felonious

End of Watch March 12, 1918

Age 37

Badge 43

The Vigil Panel 33 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Patrolman Gethin Richards was the fourth of four Akron Policemen to be shot and killed by members of an Italian gang in retaliation for the Akron Police Department's crackdown on their gambling dens and brothels. He was shot five times in front of 323 South Main Street at 1:00 a.m. The gang was responsible for the deaths of Patrolman Guy Norris, shot and killed on December 24, 1917, and Patrolman Edward J. Costigan and Patrolman Joseph H. Hunt, both shot and killed on January 10, 1918. The Akron Police Department was baffled by the murders, not realizing the gang's involvement until an anonymous phone caller implicated one of the gang members, who was arrested in New York. The suspect implicated five other gang members who were arrested and charged with murder. Four of the suspects were executed in Ohio's electric chair: one on October 4, 1918, two on February 19, 1919, and one on July 24, 1919. The other two suspects were sentenced to life in prison. One was released in 1934 and deported to Italy. The other suspect was denied parole in 1964.

Survivors

Patrolman Richards, a widower, was survived by his daughters, in-laws, and brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-4EEA51CF
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.
Patrolman Richards served with the Akron Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Akron community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Richards.

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

Agency

Department Akron Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Akron, Summit County, OH

Platform Identity apd.summit.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1918

Age 37

Badge Number 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Patrolman Gethin G. Richards 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Akron Police Department, 16 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Akron Police Department

of 28 officers

57.1% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious