Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

James M. Richardson, II

York Police Department — York, NE

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 22, 1977

Age 24

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Badge 008

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Officer James Richardson was shot and killed after responding to investigate a disturbance on Blackburn Avenue. He was shot as he stepped out of his patrol car at the scene at 10:30 p.m. The bullet hit him in the chest one-half inch above the top of his bullet-proof vest. A teenage suspect was arrested a short time later. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison on July 11, 1977. He was paroled on August 14, 1986. Officer Richardson was a Vietnam War veteran and served with the York Police Department for 10 months. He had previously served with the McCook Police Department and Rawlins County (Kansas) Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NE-632A947F
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.
Police Officer Richardson gave the York Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the York 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

Department York Police Department

Location York, NE

Platform Identity ypd.york.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 22, 1977

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 24

Badge Number 008

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber

Offender weapons violation

Military Service

James M. Richardson, II served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer James M. Richardson, II 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

York Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NE — Statewide

of 151 officers

64.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James M. Richardson, II's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James M. Richardson, II Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

weapons violation

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Richardson, II is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James M. Richardson, II was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518