Richard Barry Zbinden
Agency patch
Captain

Richard Barry Zbinden

Pomona Police Department — Pomona, CA
Felonious
End of Watch August 13, 1991
Age 57
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 137 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Captain Richard Zbinden succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on August 28th, 1959, when he responded to a weapon brandishing call. He was shot with a .22 caliber revolver after going to the suspect's home, at 1859 Fleming Street, to question him about the incident. The wound caused him to be out of work for two years but he later returned to duty and rose the rank of Captain before succumbing to the wound. The suspect was convicted of the shooting. Captain Zbinden had served with the Pomona Police Department for 25 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-318BA31D
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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Captain Zbinden gave the Pomona Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Pomona community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Zbinden.

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

Agency

Location Pomona, CA
Platform Identity pomopd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 13, 1991
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber
Offender Convicted

Captain Richard Barry Zbinden 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pomona Police Department, 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Pomona Police Department
4
of 7 officers
57.1% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% 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 Barry Zbinden'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 Barry Zbinden Compares

Age at End of Watch
57
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Barry Zbinden is highlighted in Aug.

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 Barry Zbinden was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.

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

Incident Location