Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard Calhoun was shot and killed while he and other officers attempted to apprehend three prison escapees in the 90 block of Avenue J near the Houston Ship Channel Bridge. The inmates had escaped from a state prison farm near Sugar Land. He and other officers had entered the home and discovered one of the escapees dead in a downstairs area of the home. As Officer Calhoun reached the top of the stairs on the second level, one of the other escapees suddenly appeared and opened fire with a sawed-off shotgun, killing him. The other officers were able to pull Officer Calhoun from the home. The home ignited when tear gas was fired into it during the ensuing standoff. All of the remaining escapees were killed in the fire. Officer Calhoun was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Houston Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-72A2D9F6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Richard is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Calhoun gave the Houston Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard Howard Calhoun served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Richard Howard Calhoun 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Howard Calhoun's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Howard Calhoun Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Howard Calhoun is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Howard Calhoun was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Richard Howard Calhoun served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Richard Howard Calhoun’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
