Roll of Honor
Incident
PC Gunn was killed in a road traffic collision while responding from his base in Camberley to an emergency call in Woking, when his police car was struck side-on by a van on Red Road, Lightwater. Although his vehicle subsequently caught fire, PC Gunn died instantly from injuries sustained in the collision.
He was due to be married exactly seven weeks later, on 2nd May 2004.
Richard was born on 7th June 1974 in Boston, Massachusetts, but attended school in Chelmsford, Essex, before studying at University College London. He joined Surrey Police in March 1998 and had six years police service, working on a Targeted Patrol Team.
His funeral was held at a full Guildford Cathedral on 26th March 2004, when his Chief Constable, police colleagues, family and friends paid their respects to this very popular officer.
Richard is survived by his parents, his younger brother and his fiancée.
Survivors
Richard is survived by his parents, his younger brother and his fiancée.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-SUP-3025480D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 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 Constable Gunn served with the Surrey Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Gunn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Constable Richard Patrick Gunn is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ENG, 1,349 of 2,827 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 47.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Surrey Police, 5 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Patrick Gunn's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Patrick Gunn Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Patrick Gunn is highlighted in Mar.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Surrey Police are honored on badge.nw.
