Richard O. Riggs
Master Patrolman

Richard O. Riggs

Oklahoma City Police Department — Oklahoma City, OK
Felonious
End of Watch January 7, 1986
Age 32
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 1193
The Vigil Panel 130 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Master Patrolman Richard Riggs was shot and killed NE 36th Street, just west of I-35, as he approached a van that had just been used in a robbery several blocks away. Patrolman Riggs and his partner recognized the van as one reported to be used in an armed robbery minutes earlier. As he approached the suspect, he was shot in the chest and abdomen. The suspect was convicted of his murder and subsequently executed in April 2000. Patrolman Riggs had served with the Oklahoma City Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, stepson, parents, four brothers, and a sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-3784802C
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.
Master Patrolman Riggs gave the Oklahoma City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oklahoma City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Patrolman Riggs.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Oklahoma City, OK
Platform Identity opd.oklahoma.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 1986
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 1193
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Master Patrolman Richard O. Riggs 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Oklahoma City Police Department, 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma City Police Department
20
of 33 officers
60.6% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% 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 O. Riggs's cause is highlighted.

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

How Richard O. Riggs Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard O. Riggs is highlighted in Jan.

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 O. Riggs was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location