Mary Katherine Ricard
Agency patch
Sergeant

Mary Katherine Ricard

Colorado Department of Corrections — Colorado Springs, CO
Felonious
End of Watch September 24, 2012
Age 55
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 161 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Sergeant Mary Ricard was killed when she was stabbed in the neck as an inmate attacked her and another corrections sergeant at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Crowley, Colorado.

The inmate, a convicted child rapist, attacked the two female sergeants in the kitchen area of the medium-security prison while breakfast was being prepared. The inmate was able to inflict serious wounds on both sergeants before being subdued. Sergeant Ricard succumbed to her injuries while the other sergeant was critically injured.

In August 2019, the inmate, who was serving a 35 years-to-life sentence, was re-sentenced to life and 48 years.

Sergeant Ricard had served with the Colorado Department of Corrections for nine years.

Survivors

She is survived by her husband and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-4B1EF0F0
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.
Sergeant Ricard gave the Colorado Department of Corrections 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Ricard.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Colorado Springs, CO
Platform Identity cdcorr.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 24, 2012
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 55
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon

Sergeant Mary Katherine Ricard 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Colorado Department of Corrections, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado Department of Corrections
14
of 18 officers
77.8% Felonious
CO — Statewide
235
of 360 officers
65.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mary Katherine Ricard's cause is highlighted.

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

How Mary Katherine Ricard Compares

Age at Death
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mary Katherine Ricard is highlighted in Sep.

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. Mary Katherine Ricard was killed by edged weapon.

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

Incident Location