Richard John Landes
Agency patch
Deputy

Richard John Landes

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office — West Palm Beach, FL
Felonious
End of Watch April 18, 1981
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Richard Landes was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while he was assisting others in removing a vehicle from a canal at the intersection of Summit Boulevard and Military Trail. He and the tow truck driver were struck as they stood next to the car after it was pulled from the canal. The 34-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck him was charged with reckless driving, drunk driving, and manslaughter. In 1984 the driver was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six months in jail. He was told he could get his license back when he completed an alcohol abuse treatment program. Deputy Landes had previously served with the Belle Glade Police Department.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-2098FCBB
Stewardship
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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.
Deputy Landes served with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the West Palm Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Landes.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, FL
Platform Identity pbcso.palmbeach.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 18, 1981
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Deputy Richard John Landes 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.4% of this agency's fallen.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
7
of 23 officers
30.4% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% 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 John Landes's cause is highlighted.

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

How Richard John Landes Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard John Landes is highlighted in Apr.

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 John Landes was killed by automobile.

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

Incident Location