Roll of Honor
Incident
Assistant Chief Richard Beecher was struck and killed by a vehicle while manning a roadblock near the intersection of U.S. 17 and Washington Loop Road during the search of an escaped murderer from the Charlotte County Jail. He had flagged down a truck and stepped up on the running board to speak to the driver. After questioning the driver, he stepped down off the running board and was struck by a passing motorist. Assistant Chief Beecher was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries a few hours later. The escapee was arrested a short time later. Assistant Chief Beecher had served with the Punta Gorda Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-439645CA- 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.
Assistant Chief Beecher gave the Punta Gorda Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Punta Gorda community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief Beecher.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Chief Richard Leo Beecher 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 FL, 313 of 1,008 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 0.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Punta Gorda Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Leo Beecher's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Leo Beecher Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Leo Beecher is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Punta Gorda Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
