Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Richard Pelkey succumbed to wounds he received when he was shot in a standoff with a burglar at a cabin in Lake Placid, New York, on August 5, 1954. He and other officers had cornered a wanted burglar who was an AWOL Air Force major. The suspect, hiding in a shower stall, opened fire and struck three officers. Officer Pelkey suffered a fatal wound and died a week later. The suspect was later caught in Reno, Nevada. He was convicted of second-degree murder but only served fourteen years in prison. The man was later killed in an automobile crash in 1970. Patrolman Pelkey had served with the Lake Placid Police Department for eight years and had previously served for five years with the Quartermaster Corps during WWII.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-16420858- 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 Pelkey gave the Lake Placid Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lake Placid community, and 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 E. Pelkey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Richard E. Pelkey 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lake Placid Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard E. Pelkey's cause is highlighted.
How Richard E. Pelkey Compares
Offender Outcome
Released after 14 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard E. Pelkey is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard E. Pelkey was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lake Placid Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
