Richard J. Beavers
Major

Richard J. Beavers

Felonious
End of Watch November 29, 1983
Age 37
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Badge 247
The Vigil Panel 127 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Major Richard Beavers was shot and killed while attempting to stop a robbery in progress. Major Beavers was able to return fire, wounding the suspect, which lead to his being identified and convicted. Major Beavers had served with the Prince George's County Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-56B28B93
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.
Major Beavers gave the Prince George's County Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Palmer Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Major Beavers.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Hyattsville, MD
Platform Identity pgcpd.pg.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 29, 1983
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 247
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Major Richard J. Beavers 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Prince George's County Police Department, 19 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.3% of this agency's fallen.

Prince George's County Police Department
19
of 30 officers
63.3% Felonious
MD — Statewide
195
of 377 officers
51.7% 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. Richard J. Beavers's cause is highlighted.

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

How Richard J. Beavers Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
16
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard J. Beavers is highlighted in Nov.

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. Richard J. Beavers was killed by gun.

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