Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Richard Gould was shot and killed while working at the front desk at the police station in the City-County Complex at 3:00 pm. A mentally ill person entered the station and asked to speak to the watch commander. Lieutenant Gould took him to his office and spoke to him for about five minutes before the man suddenly pulled out a .38 caliber revolver and shot him in the head. The man then ran outside of the building and shot himself in the head. Lieutenant Gould had served with the Florence Police Department for 11-1/2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-F8FA2385- 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.
Lieutenant Gould gave the Florence Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Florence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Gould.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Richard Walters Gould 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Florence Police Department, 5 of 5 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 Walters Gould's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Walters Gould Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Walters Gould is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Walters Gould was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Florence Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
