Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Kenneth Lester succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile crash on February 17th, 1995, while responding to an alarm call.
He was responding to the call with his lights activated but no siren. As he approached the intersection of South 8th Street and South H Street a tractor-trailer that was driving in the left lane moved to the right lane. As Officer Lester overtook the tractor-trailer, it suddenly attempted to make a left turn in front of him. His patrol car became stuck underneath the trailer, causing him to suffer debilitating head and internal injuries.
Officer Lester required around-the-clock care for the next 25 years. He passed away from complications of the original injuries on February 10th, 2020.
Officer Lester had served with the Richmond Police Department for 16 years at the time of his crash.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-7A87308F- 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 Kenneth. 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.
Police Officer Lester gave the Richmond Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lester.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Kenneth Reid Lester 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 IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Richmond Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kenneth Reid Lester's cause is highlighted.
How Kenneth Reid Lester Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth Reid Lester is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Richmond Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
