James Almeron Richmond
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James Almeron Richmond

Apache County Sheriff's Office — St. Johns, AZ
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 7, 1880
Age 34
The Vigil Panel 6 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Richmond and Deputy Sheriff Paddy Creaghe were shot and killed near Ash Creek (in modern-day Graham County) when they were attacked by Indians led by a well-known warrior named Victorio.

Deputy Creaghe and Deputy Richmond were at camp while conducting land assessments when they were attacked and killed. The exact cause of death is unknown, but it is believed they were either shot or killed with arrows.

Their bodies were found the following day by members of the U.S. Army who had gone to the area after hearing reports that Victorio's forces had attacked a farm. The Army unit engaged in a battle with the Indians in which one soldier and scout were killed along with an undetermined number of Victorio's warriors. Victorio and his warriors had been attacking settlements in the area and murdering residents for more than one year. They were rebelling against the United States government for forcing them to leave their homeland.

A few months later they entered Mexico and soon found themselves surrounded by the Mexican Army. The army attacked killing all of them.

It is believed that Deputy Creaghe and Deputy Richmond were buried at the spot their bodies were located.

Deputy Richmond was a U.S. Army veteran of the Civil War.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-A4B55725
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 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.
Deputy Sheriff Richmond served with the Apache County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the St. Johns community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location St. Johns, Apache County, AZ
Platform Identity acso.apache.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 7, 1880
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

James Almeron Richmond served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff James Almeron Richmond 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In AZ, 204 of 330 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 Apache County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Apache County Sheriff's Office
5
of 7 officers
71.4% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Almeron Richmond's cause is highlighted.

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

How James Almeron Richmond Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Almeron Richmond is highlighted in May.

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. James Almeron Richmond was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

James Almeron Richmond served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit James Almeron Richmond’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.