Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Richard Vandermate was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call at a tavern on Main Street. He observed the suspect inside the tavern when he arrived and ordered him to surrender. The teenage suspect opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle and mortally wounded the chief. Chief Vandermate was able to crawl back to his patrol car and turned on the siren to get the attention of nearby citizens who took him to a local hospital. He succumbed to his wounds the following day. The subject was caught and convicted, but served less than 20 years. Chief Vandermate had served in law enforcement for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NE-AE9EB3B3- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Vandermate gave the Oshkosh Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oshkosh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Vandermate.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Richard Robert Vandermate 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Robert Vandermate's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Robert Vandermate Compares
Offender Outcome
Captured and convicted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Robert Vandermate is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Robert Vandermate was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.