Richard F. Champy

New Hampshire State Police — Concord, NH

Veteran → Cardiac

End of Watch February 3, 1978

Age 32

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 9

Incident

Trooper Richard Champy suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a hit-and-run suspect. He initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 89 in Lebanon after receiving a report of a vehicle running another vehicle off the road and not stopping. During the stop, Trooper Champy and another trooper struggled with the driver and passenger. During the altercation, Trooper Champy collapsed. He was unable to be resuscitated and died at a New London Hospital. The driver pleaded no contest to driving while intoxicated, was sentenced to 30 days plus a $500 fine, and was fined $100 for failing to stop after an accident. The passenger was found guilty of resisting arrest and intoxication and was sentenced to 30 days and fined $220 for resisting arrest and $27.50 for intoxication. He was found innocent of assaulting Trooper Champy. Trooper Champy was a United States Navy Vietnam War veteran and had served with the New Hampshire State Police for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NH-93F7D1B6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Richard. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Richard is one person.

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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Champy gave the New Hampshire State Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Hampshire, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department New Hampshire State Police

Type State Police

Location Concord, NH

Platform Identity nhsp.nh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 3, 1978

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Military Service

Richard F. Champy served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Richard F. Champy is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In NH, 14 of 59 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 23.7% of this state's fallen. That is 23.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New Hampshire State Police, 2 of 10 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.

New Hampshire State Police

of 10 officers

20% Cardiac

NH — Statewide

of 59 officers

23.7% Cardiac

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Cardiac