Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Richards was shot and killed while he and a state trooper served a lunacy warrant on a man living in a cave. As the officers approached the area, after walking several hundred yards from the road, the suspect noticed them and began to walk away. The officers identified the man and stated their intent. The man suddenly turned around and opened fire with a rifle, striking Sheriff Richards in the throat. Both officers were able to return fire, fatally wounding the suspect.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-WV-094171D6- Stewardship
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- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Richards served with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Grantsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Richards.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Park Richards 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Park Richards's cause is highlighted.
How Park Richards Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Park Richards is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Park Richards was killed by rifle.