Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Richard Dawson died 25 years after being involved in an automobile crash while en route to a burglary call.
During the response, Patrolman Dawson lost control of his patrol car on wet, slippery pavement at the intersection of Route 130 and Woodland Avenue. He suffered a broken neck and was rendered a quadriplegic. He died from injuries related to the accident.
Patrolman Dawson was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Pennsauken Township Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-96BD8436- 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 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.
Patrolman Dawson gave the Pennsauken Township Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pennsauken community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard F. Dawson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Richard F. Dawson 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 NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 8.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Pennsauken Township Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard F. Dawson's cause is highlighted.
How Richard F. Dawson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Richard F. Dawson is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Pennsauken Township Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
