Richard C. White
Agency patch
Deputy Marshal

Richard C. White

Colorado City Police Department — Colorado City, AZ
Felonious
End of Watch January 14, 1987
Age 41
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 131 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Richard White was killed when his patrol car was struck head-on by a suspect's vehicle at 10:00 p.m. during a pursuit that had started in Utah. The suspect and his passenger had been pursued by deputies in Utah for 175 miles and entered Arizona. Marshal White and two Mohave County deputies had set up a roadblock in Colorado City, but the suspect was able to avoid it. Marshal White joined in the pursuit. When the suspect observed a second roadblock set by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, he turned the car around and headed back toward Utah on Arizona Highway 389. Shortly after turning around, the suspect's vehicle, traveling without its lights on, struck Marshal White's vehicle head-on at a speed of over 90 mph. The driver and passenger, who was on probation from a grand larceny conviction, in the fleeing car were also killed in the crash. Marshal White had served in law enforcement for nine years, serving with the Colorado City Police Department and previously served as an auxiliary deputy for the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and thirteen children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-C16C9A7F
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.
Deputy Marshal White gave the Colorado City Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Marshal White.

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

Agency

Location Colorado City, AZ
Platform Identity cpd.mohave.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 14, 1987
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile
Offender Killed in crash

Deputy Marshal Richard C. White 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Colorado City Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard C. White's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Richard C. White Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Killed in crash

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard C. White was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location