Richard Lee Rhyne
Deputy Sheriff

Richard Lee Rhyne

Moore County Sheriff's Dept. — Carthage, NC
Felonious
End of Watch December 8, 2011
Age 58
Tour of Duty 37 yrs
The Vigil Panel 161 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Rick Rhyne was shot and killed after responding to investigate reports of trespassing at a home on Morrison Bridge Road.

While questioning two brothers he learned that one of them had a warrant for outstanding child support. As he attempted to place the man under arrest the man fatally shot him with a handgun. The suspect then committed suicide.

Deputy Rhyne had served with the Moore County Sheriff's Office for four years and had a total of 37 years in law enforcement. He had previously served with the Pinehurst Police Department and as police chief of the Foxfire Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and two grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-0CDFCC72
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

37 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Rhyne gave the Moore County Sheriff's Office 37 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Carthage community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rhyne.

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

Agency

Location Carthage, NC
Platform Identity mcso.moore.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 8, 2011
Tour of Duty 37 yrs
Age 58
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Committed suicide

Deputy Sheriff Richard Lee Rhyne 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Moore County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Moore County Sheriff's Dept.
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Lee Rhyne's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Richard Lee Rhyne Compares

Age at End of Watch
58
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Lee Rhyne is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Lee Rhyne was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Moore County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.