Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Melvin Richardson succumbed to injuries sustained in a collision with a harvesting combine on Highway 275 near 260th Street.
At 12:35 pm, the combine was traveling southbound on Highway 275. Deputy Richardson was driving northbound when his vehicle collided with the combine. The combine was wider than the lane, and Deputy Richardson's left front tire collided with the machine.
Deputy Richardson had served with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office for seven years and had previously served as the Chief of Police with the Sidney Police Department for four years, the Auburn Police Department for three years, and a reserve deputy with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-CBAD88A5- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Austin. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Richardson gave the Fremont County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sidney community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Richardson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Austin W. "Melvin" Richardson 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 IA, 71 of 226 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.4 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Fremont County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Austin W. "Melvin" Richardson's cause is highlighted.
How Austin W. "Melvin" Richardson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Austin W. "Melvin" Richardson is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Fremont County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
