Leaward Robert Rich

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA

Veteran → Veteran → Accident

End of Watch December 13, 1974

Age 28

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 39

Incident

Patrolman Leaward Rich and Patrolman Edwin Stephenson were killed in an automobile crash while en route to assist another officer who was chasing a stolen car. During their response at 12:30 a.m., in an attempt to avoid another car in the intersection, the unmarked police car left the roadway. It struck a tree at Brook Street and Westwood Avenue, causing fatal injuries to both officers. Patrolman Rich was a U.S. Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Richmond Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, fiancee, sister, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-C26F3C48
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.
Patrolman Rich gave the Richmond Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond 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 Richmond Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1974

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Leaward Robert Rich served in the U.S. Air Force (1965â1968) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Leaward Robert Rich is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 204 of 655 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Richmond Police Department, 17 of 40 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 42.5% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 40 officers

42.5% Accident

VA — Statewide

204

of 655 officers

31.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident