Richard Lee Spaulding

Portsmouth Police Department — Portsmouth, VA

Cardiac

End of Watch November 23, 2005

Age 49

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 153 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Patrolman Rick Spaulding suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being involved in a vehicle and foot pursuit in Portsmouth.

Patrolman Spaulding and other officers took the two suspects into custody following the foot pursuit. As Patrolman Spaulding transported one of the men to police headquarters, he suffered a heart attack. His vehicle left the roadway, went down an embankment, and struck a tree at the junction of Portsmouth Boulevard and I-264. Other officers located the car and immediately began CPR.

He was transported to Maryview Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The prisoner being transported suffered only minor injuries.

Patrolman Spaulding had served with the Portsmouth Police Department for nine years; six years as a full-time officer, and three years as an auxiliary officer.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two children, and one grandchild.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-16B36584
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.
Patrolman Spaulding gave the Portsmouth Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portsmouth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Spaulding.

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

Agency

Department Portsmouth Police Department

Location Portsmouth, VA

Platform Identity ppd.portsmouth.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 23, 2005

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Patrolman Richard Lee Spaulding is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 25 of 654 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this state's fallen.

At Portsmouth Police Department, 1 of 10 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 10% of this agency's fallen.

Portsmouth Police Department

of 10 officers

10% Cardiac

VA — Statewide

of 654 officers

3.8% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac