Richard L. Bandy
Agency patch
Sergeant

Richard L. Bandy

Hendersonville Police Department — Hendersonville, TN
Felonious
End of Watch January 19, 1980
Age 28
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 122 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Richard Bandy was struck and killed by a motorcycle that was driving recklessly on Main Street in Hendersonville. He had responded to the scene after receiving reports of the motorcycle. When he observed the suspect in his rear-view mirror, he stopped his patrol and exited it. As he did so, the motorcycle struck him. The suspect crashed and was arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree murder. The 17-year-old suspect was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 5 years. Sergeant Bandy had served with the Hendersonville Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three children, and a brother who was a police officer.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-0441A949
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Bandy gave the Hendersonville Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hendersonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Bandy.

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

Agency

Location Hendersonville, TN
Platform Identity hpd.sumner.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 1980
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Not available
Offender Sentenced to 5 years

Sergeant Richard L. Bandy 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hendersonville Police Department, 1 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.

Hendersonville Police Department
1
of 5 officers
20% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% 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. Richard L. Bandy'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 Richard L. Bandy Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard L. Bandy is highlighted in Jan.

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. Richard L. Bandy was killed by not available.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location