Rickie C. Finley
Incident
Special Agent Rickie Finley was killed in a plane crash as he was returning from a jungle operation, known as Operation Snowcap, to a base camp in Lima, Peru. The plane crashed in a remote area of the Andes Mountain while returning to Lima from the Huallaga Valley. Nine Peruvian passengers of the plane were also killed in the crash. Agent Finley had served with the Drug Enforcement Administration for five years and had previously served with the North Little Rock Police Department in Arkansas for for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Finley gave the United States Department of Justice 11 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Finley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration has lost 38 officers; 20 of them lost to accidents.
Rickie is one of 657 officers lost to accidents in TX, 27.1% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Rickie is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Rickie is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1989, 1 officer at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration was lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1994, with 5.
In 1989, 10 officers in TX were lost to accidents, the 7th heaviest of 136 years on record. The heaviest was 1994, with 14.
In 1989, 84 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 21st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1989, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Rickie was 37. Of the 20 lost to accidents at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration whose age is recorded, half were between 32.8 and 38.3; the middle age was 37. Rickie had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Rickie was 37. Of the 626 lost to accidents in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 36. Rickie had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Rickie was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Rickie had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Rickie was 37. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Rickie had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 20% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration; August holds the most, 45%. Saturdays: 35%.
May holds 10% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 11.7%. Saturdays: 18%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 52.6% of all 38 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 27.1% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration has 38 officers remembered here, Rickie among them.
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Emir Benitez
Aug 9, 1973
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Nickolas I. Fragos
Aug 5, 1974
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Charles H. Mann
Aug 5, 1974
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Larry Dale Wallace
Dec 19, 1975
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James T. Lunn
May 14, 1976
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Ralph N. Shaw
May 14, 1976
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Octavio Gonzales
Dec 13, 1976
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Francis J. Miller
Mar 5, 1977
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Robert Carter Lightfoot
Nov 23, 1977
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Thomas J. Devine
Sep 25, 1982
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Larry N. Carwell
Jan 9, 1984
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Enrique Salazar Camarena
Feb 9, 1985
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William Ramos
Dec 31, 1986
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Raymond J. Stastny
Jan 26, 1987
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Arthur L. Cash
Aug 25, 1987
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George M. Montoya
Feb 5, 1988
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Paul S. Seema
Feb 6, 1988
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Everett Emerson Hatcher
Feb 28, 1989
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Rickie C. Finley
May 20, 1989
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Alan H. Winn
Aug 13, 1991
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George Douglas Althouse
May 28, 1992
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Becky Lee Dwojeski-Phipps
Oct 21, 1993
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Richard E. Fass
Jun 30, 1994
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Frank Fernandez, Jr.
Aug 27, 1994
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Jay W. Seale
Aug 27, 1994
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Meredith Thompson
Aug 27, 1994
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Juan C. Vars
Aug 27, 1994
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Frank S. Wallace, Jr.
Aug 27, 1994
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Kenneth Glenn McCullough
Apr 19, 1995
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Shaun Edmond Curl
Dec 12, 1997
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Terrance Patrick Loftus
May 28, 2004
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Don Cleo Ware
Oct 12, 2004
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Thomas Joseph Byrne
Aug 30, 2008
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Chad L. Michael
Oct 26, 2009
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Forrest Nelson Leamon
Oct 26, 2009
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Michael E. Weston
Oct 26, 2009
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James Terry Watson
Jun 21, 2013
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Michael Gale Garbo
Oct 4, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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