Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard F. Gipson suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a suspect at O'Hare International Airport. Two suspects attempted to purchase tickets from American Airlines with a stolen check. The airline had been notified by Trans World Airlines regarding the two who just tried to purchase tickets and had been turned away because the check was suspicious. When the suspects showed up at the American Airlines counter they provided three identifications cards, none of which matched the checks. The two were invited into a back room and security notified Officer Gipson, who was on patrol outside. When Officer Gipson arrived one suspect tore the check into pieces and attempted to eat it. Officer Gipson struggled with the suspect and then collapsed into a chair and lost consciousness. Both suspects were taken into custody by Area 5 Violent Crimes officers. Officer Gipson had served with the Chicago Police Department for 24 years and was assigned to the 016th District. He was to have gone on furlough and then into retirement the next day.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two grandsons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-69900D09- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Gipson gave the Chicago Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gipson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Richard F. Gipson is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 45 of 1,318 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points below the national rate of 4%.
At Chicago Police Department, 17 of 571 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard F. Gipson's cause is highlighted.
How Richard F. Gipson Compares
Offender Outcome
In custody
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Richard F. Gipson is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
