Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Sam Howard and Police Officer Matthew Baxter were shot and killed while responding to reports of three suspicious people in the area of Palmway Street and Cypress Street at approximately 9:30 pm.
They were speaking to the men when a scuffle ensued, and both officers were shot. Both were transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center, where Officer Baxter was pronounced dead. Sergeant Howard passed away the following afternoon.
The subject who shot him was arrested approximately two hours after the shooting by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office members. Two handguns were found in his possession when he was arrested. In September 2019, the man was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, and in November 2019, the jury recommended he receive the death penalty. In 2022, a judge sentenced the subject to the death penalty.
Sergeant Howard was a U.S Army veteran and had served with the Kissimmee Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and one child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-51BDBE55- 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.
Sergeant Howard gave the Kissimmee Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kissimmee 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard Samuel Howard, III served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Richard Samuel Howard, III 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Kissimmee Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Samuel Howard, III's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Samuel Howard, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Samuel Howard, III is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Samuel Howard, III was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Kissimmee Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
