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Gordon Joseph Rich
Agency patch
Officer

Gordon Joseph Rich

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch April 5, 1986
Age 45
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Badge 325
The Vigil Panel 289 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Gordon Rich was shot and killed with his own weapon while making a traffic stop on Interstate 70 around 12:30 a.m. Unbeknownst to Officer Rich, the men had just committed a robbery. He had placed both men in the back seat of his cruiser. One of them was able to gain control of his weapon and shot him. He attempted to call for help on his police radio but was unable to speak to the dispatcher. A witness to the shooting followed the suspects, who were later apprehended. The 25-year-old shooter was convicted of murder and sentenced to prison for 33 years to life. He was denied parole in February 2019. His next parole hearing will be on February 1, 2029. Officer Rich had been with the Columbus Division of Police for 23 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two children, and two stepchildren.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

23 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Rich gave the Columbus Division of Police 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rich.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 5, 1986
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 325
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Gordon is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1986, 98 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 54th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gordon was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Gordon had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Gordon among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Gordon Joseph Rich

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch April 5, 1986

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-E

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