Richard D. Vigneault

Springfield Police Department — Springfield, MA

Felonious

End of Watch April 11, 1973

Age 32

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Police Officer Richard Vigneault was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Worthington Street at 1:35 am. Officer Vigneault had served with the Springfield Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-80BAF2CD
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 Vigneault gave the Springfield Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Vigneault.

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

Agency

Department Springfield Police Department

Location Springfield, MA

Platform Identity spd.hampden.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 11, 1973

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Not available

Police Officer Richard D. Vigneault is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Springfield Police Department, 7 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.

Springfield Police Department

of 19 officers

36.8% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious