Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard Klass succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained one month earlier when he was shot with his own weapon while struggling with a suspect in front of 5863 Mission Street in San Francisco. Officers were booking a prisoner into the Daly City Jail on Wellington Avenue on a charge of indecent exposure. As the officers were trying to fingerprint him the man broke away and fled down Mission Street toward San Francisco. An all-points bulletin was broadcast and Officer Klass spotted the fugitive. Officer Klass located the man several blocks across the city line in San Francisco. A struggle ensued and the subject took Officer Klass' gun from him and shot him in the back, striking several vital organs. The subject then attempted to shoot Officer Klass in the face but another officer arrived and deflected the gun's barrel. Officer Klass was rushed to Mary's Help Hospital where he underwent surgery for the removal of his spleen, a kidney, and his pancreas. He was paralyzed from the waist down from damage to his spinal cord. As he was being prepared for a routine exploratory operation on June 9th, 1966, he died unexpectedly from a heart attack. The subject was convicted of Officer Klass' murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. His first conviction was overturned and he was sentenced to five years to life after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Officer Klass had served with Daly City Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancee, mother, father, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-D1C9FCB6- 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 Klass gave the Daly City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Daly City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Klass.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard John Klass 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 Daly City Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard John Klass's cause is highlighted.
How Richard John Klass Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard John Klass is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard John Klass was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Daly City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
