Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Richard Herzog was shot and killed with his own service weapon after responding to a call at about 5:00 p.m. involving a naked man creating a disturbance in the roadway on Coal Creek Parkway.
When Deputy Herzog, who was wearing a vest, arrived on the scene, he attempted to subdue the man with pepper spray. The spray did not affect the man, who then attacked Deputy Herzog. Deputy Herzog's service weapon, a .40 caliber Glock, was knocked to the ground, and the magazine came out of it.
The suspect picked up the weapon and replaced the magazine. As Deputy Herzog attempted to retreat, the suspect shot him once, knocking him to the ground. The suspect then stood over him and shot him ten more times before fleeing to a nearby apartment. The man was apprehended approximately 45 minutes later. The suspect had been released from jail only 11 days earlier after serving several months for assaulting a police officer.
The suspect was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder on August 19th, 2004. On September 23rd, 2004, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Deputy Herzog was a United States Army veteran and had served with the King County Sheriff's Office for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two teenage daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-F89C2D4C- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Herzog gave the King County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle 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 Anthony Herzog served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Richard Anthony Herzog 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At King County Sheriffs Dept., 11 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Anthony Herzog's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Anthony Herzog Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to Life without Parole
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Anthony Herzog is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Anthony Herzog was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from King County Sheriffs Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
