Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

James E. Richardson, Jr.

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch July 19, 1980

Age 34

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 8003

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 87

Incident

Sergeant James Richardson was shot and killed during a traffic stop at McDaniel and Peters Streets. Sergeant Richardson, while undercover driving an unmarked car, had stopped the vehicle after witnessing the two occupants harassing a female gas station attendant. After stopping the vehicle he spoke to the driver who had gotten out and as he returned to his car to run his license, the passenger got out and shot him. This was witnessed by the patrons of a restaurant across the street from where the stop occurred. The vehicle they were driving was stolen from a couple they had abducted and robbed. The couple escaped, but not before being fired upon. The shooter was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Sergeant Richardson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War.

Survivors

He had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 10 years and was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-35E1C27D
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 Richardson gave the Atlanta Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 19, 1980

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 8003

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life imprisonment

Military Service

James E. Richardson, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant James E. Richardson, Jr. 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department

of 88 officers

65.9% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious