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Incident
Master Trooper David Rich was shot and killed while investigating an apparently stranded vehicle on U.S. 24 near State Road 115, one mile west of Wabash in Wabash County.
Master Trooper Rich, who was on his way home in plainclothes and in an unmarked squad car, stopped to help a motorist he believed was stranded at about 4:00 pm. Master Trooper Rich was not aware the man was driving an SUV that his father had reported stolen the previous day from their home in Gaylord, Michigan. Upon approaching the vehicle, the suspect opened fire with a shotgun through the driver's window, striking Master Trooper Rich in the chest, who was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest but had his service weapon drawn.
The suspect reloaded the shotgun and then committed suicide.
Master Trooper Rich had served with the Indiana State Police for over 17½ years and was assigned to the Peru post as a detective. He was survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter, twin 4-year-old sons, parents, sister, and brother, who serves as a captain with the Indiana State Police. His father is a retired Indiana State Police trooper and former two-term Miami County sheriff.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter, twin 4-year-old sons, parents, sister, and brother, who serves as a captain with the Indiana State Police.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Master Trooper Rich gave the Indiana State Police 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Trooper Rich.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Indiana State Police has lost 46 officers; 21 of them killed feloniously.
David is one of 310 officers killed feloniously in IN, 61.6% of the 503 remembered there.
David is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
David is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2007, 1 officer at Indiana State Police was killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 16 years on record. The heaviest was 1957, with 2.
In 2007, 3 officers in IN were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 122 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 9.
In 2007, 84 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 77th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2007, 90 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 75th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
David was 41. Of the 21 killed feloniously at Indiana State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 42; the middle age was 31. David had served 17.6 years; the middle length of service was 7.5 years.
David was 41. Of the 299 killed feloniously in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. David had served 17.6 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
David was 41. 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. David had served 17.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
David was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. David had served 17.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 14.3% of these deaths at Indiana State Police; March holds the most, 23.8%. Thursdays: 23.8%.
July holds 8.1% of these deaths in IN; January holds the most, 11%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 45.7% of all 46 deaths at Indiana State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Indiana State Police has 46 officers remembered here, David among them.
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Eugene Teague
Dec 20, 1933
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Paul Vincent Minneman
May 27, 1937
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William Raymond Dixon
Jun 28, 1938
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George August Forster
May 17, 1941
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Richard F. England
Apr 22, 1942
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Herbert Wade Smith
Dec 5, 1946
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Robert Earl Clevenger
Sep 8, 1953
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Hubert C. Roush
Jan 26, 1955
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Earl LeRoy Brown
Aug 31, 1955
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John Raymond Miller
Sep 5, 1955
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Donald Raymond Turner
Jan 28, 1956
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Marvin Edward Walts
Mar 18, 1957
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William Rae Kellems
Sep 30, 1957
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John Henry Powell
Feb 27, 1959
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Robert Jack Garrison
Dec 14, 1959
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Robert Craig Gillespie
Jun 8, 1962
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William Frederick Kieser
Mar 9, 1965
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Oscar Eugene Mills
Apr 12, 1966
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William R. Rayner
Dec 18, 1966
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Richard Gerald Brown
Sep 27, 1967
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Robert Otto Lietzan
Mar 30, 1969
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George William Campbell
Jun 18, 1969
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John Joseph Streu
Feb 20, 1971
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Glen Russell Hosier
Apr 26, 1971
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William Joseph Trees
Jun 26, 1972
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Lawrence Bernard Meyer
Feb 2, 1974
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Lewis Edward Phillips
Apr 16, 1975
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Roy Edman Jones
Jul 3, 1979
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Robert John Lather, II
Jul 6, 1982
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Steven Lester Bailey
Dec 10, 1983
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John Edward Hatfull
Apr 13, 1987
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Michael Earl Greene
Feb 5, 1993
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Todd Allen Burman
Jul 29, 1993
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Andrew Patrick Winzenread
Apr 25, 1997
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James Patrick Bartram
Mar 31, 1998
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David Anthony Deuter
Jul 16, 1998
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Richard Terrell Gaston
Mar 4, 1999
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Cory Raymond Elson
Apr 3, 1999
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Jason Eric Beal
Jan 15, 2000
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Scott Alan Patrick
Dec 22, 2003
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Gary Edward Dudley
Aug 22, 2006
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David Edward Rich
Jul 5, 2007
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Daniel Roy Barrett
Jan 27, 2008
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Peter Richard Stephan
Oct 11, 2019
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James R. Bailey
Mar 3, 2023
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Aaron N. Smith
Jun 28, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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