Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Richard Matthews was killed in an automobile accident while responding to backup another officer. His patrol car struck a tree after he swerved to avoid a box in the roadway on Shipyard Boulevard.
He was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Officer Matthews had served with the Wilmington Police Department for 2 years and had previously served with the New York City Police Department for 3 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, sister, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-4FB044A5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Matthews gave the Wilmington Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wilmington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Matthews.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard John Matthews is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Wilmington Police Dept., 5 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard John Matthews's cause is highlighted.
How Richard John Matthews Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard John Matthews is highlighted in Feb.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Wilmington Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
