Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Richard Becker was shot and killed while investigating reports of a suspicious person near a bar on State Route 170 at 1:20 a.m. Patrolman Becker was on patrol when he pulled into the bar parking lot. A patron then told him of a suspicious man in the rear of the bar. Patrolman Becker started checking the area on foot but walked past the suspect without seeing him because of the darkness. When Patrolman Becker was about 20 feet away from the man, the original complainant yelled out that the man was behind him. When Patrolman Becker turned around, he was shot in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun. The suspect fled the scene. Patrolman Becker was transported to South Side Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds approximately one hour later. The suspect fled to Winchester, Virginia, where he committed suicide the following day. Patrolman Becker had served with the Poland Township Police Department for over four years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. In December 2017, Route 170 in Mahoning County was renamed the Poland Township Police Officer Richard E. Becker Memorial Highway.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-62F29460- 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.
Patrolman Becker gave the Poland Township Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Poland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Becker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Richard Elton Becker 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Poland Township Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Elton Becker's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Elton Becker Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Elton Becker is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Elton Becker was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Poland Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
