Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Richard Duvall was shot and killed while making a traffic stop for a speeding motorist on Highway 66, half a mile south of U.S. 395. Unbeknownst to Officer Duvall, the driver was an escaped convict who had just robbed a market. As he approached the vehicle, the suspect opened fire. He was found with two bullet wounds, and his gun was still holstered. His patrol car with lights on was still running. The suspect was captured six days later after a gunfight with San Luis Obispo County deputies at a Shell Beach motel. He was convicted of first-degree murder and executed in San Quentin's gas chamber on November 3, 1961. He was suspected to have had an accomplice, but they were never found. Officer Duvall's death resulted in the California Highway Patrol requiring two officers to ride together during the midnight shift. Officer Duval was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the California Highway Patrol for two years. He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter. His son was born over four months after his death. In 2010, a portion of State Highway Route 15 in the city of Victorville was designated as the "CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway."
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-EEA31EFD- 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.
Officer Duvall gave the California Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard D. Duvall, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Richard D. Duvall, Sr. 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 California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard D. Duvall, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Richard D. Duvall, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1961
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard D. Duvall, Sr. is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard D. Duvall, Sr. was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
232 officers from California Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
