John H. Richards

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch September 14, 1871

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Detective Richards succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two weeks earlier while attempting to question a man about a stolen satchel. The suspect, a store clerk, had been accused of stealing a customer's satchel that was full of papers and money. The suspect informed the detective of the incident and Detective Richards went to the question the man.

The suspect was located in front of the store on Franklin Street and Detective Richards called out to him. The suspect suddenly produced a revolver, causing the unarmed Detective Richards to pull out his club and close the distance between the two. One shot was fired by the suspect, striking Detective Richards' arm and entering his upper chest.

A group of citizens observed the shooting and started to chase the suspect. The man attempted to shoot at the group but the gun misfired. As he examined the gun to determine why it misfired, he pulled the trigger and accidentally shot himself in the head.

Detective Richards was taken to his home where his condition became increasingly worse. He succumbed to the wound two weeks later.

Detective Richards was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Detective Richards was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-B6DD8B20
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

155 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Detective Richards served with the Baltimore City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1871

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Detective John H. Richards 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious