Gordon Joseph Rich

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH

Felonious

End of Watch April 5, 1986

Age 45

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Badge 325

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Officer Gordon Rich was shot and killed with his own weapon while making a traffic stop on Interstate 70 around 12:30 a.m. Unbeknownst to Officer Rich, the men had just committed a robbery. He had placed both men in the back seat of his cruiser. One of them was able to gain control of his weapon and shot him. He attempted to call for help on his police radio but was unable to speak to the dispatcher. A witness to the shooting followed the suspects, who were later apprehended. The 25-year-old shooter was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison for 33 years to life. He was denied parole in February 2019. His next parole hearing will be on February 1, 2029. Officer Rich had been with the Columbus Division of Police for 23 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two children, and two stepchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-A465B51B
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

23 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Rich gave the Columbus Division of Police 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rich.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police

Location Columbus, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 5, 1986

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 325

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Officer Gordon Joseph Rich is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbus Division of Police, 36 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Division of Police

of 59 officers

61% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious