James Almeron Richmond

Apache County Sheriff's Office — St. Johns, AZ

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 7, 1880

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Richmond and Deputy Sheriff Paddy Creaghe were shot and killed near Ash Creek (in modern-day Graham County) when they were attacked by Indians led by a well-known warrior named Victorio.

Deputy Creaghe and Deputy Richmond were at camp while conducting land assessments when they were attacked and killed. The exact cause of death is unknown, but it is believed they were either shot or killed with arrows.

Their bodies were found the following day by members of the U.S. Army who had gone to the area after hearing reports that Victorio's forces had attacked a farm. The Army unit engaged in a battle with the Indians in which one soldier and scout were killed along with an undetermined number of Victorio's warriors. Victorio and his warriors had been attacking settlements in the area and murdering residents for more than one year. They were rebelling against the United States government for forcing them to leave their homeland.

A few months later they entered Mexico and soon found themselves surrounded by the Mexican Army. The army attacked killing all of them.

It is believed that Deputy Creaghe and Deputy Richmond were buried at the spot their bodies were located.

Deputy Richmond was a U.S. Army veteran of the Civil War.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-A4B55725
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Richmond served with the Apache County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the St. Johns community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Apache County Sheriff's Office

Location St. Johns, AZ

Platform Identity acso.apache.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 7, 1880

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Killed

Military Service

James Almeron Richmond served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff James Almeron Richmond 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%.

At Apache County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Apache County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious