Richard M. Cuellar
Patrolman

Richard M. Cuellar

San Antonio Police Department — San Antonio, TX
Felonious
End of Watch August 2, 1968
Age 37
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 612
The Vigil Panel 104 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Richard Cueller was shot and killed by a juvenile suspect attempting to escape custody from another officer. The officers had both arrived at the police parking lot at the same time. As the other patrolman took the juvenile from the patrol car the youth produced a handgun and fled into the path of Patrolman Cueller, who attempted to stop him. The suspect shot Patrolman Cueller before the two officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Patrolman Cueller had been with the agency for nine years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-DCF1AA0B
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 Cuellar gave the San Antonio Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cuellar.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
Platform Identity sapd.bexar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 2, 1968
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 612
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Richard M. Cuellar 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At San Antonio Police Department, 40 of 64 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

San Antonio Police Department
40
of 64 officers
62.5% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Richard M. Cuellar's cause is highlighted.

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

How Richard M. Cuellar Compares

Age at Death
37
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. Richard M. Cuellar is highlighted in Aug.

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 M. Cuellar was killed by handgun.

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