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Richard Rivers
Agency patch
Officer

Richard Rivers

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
United States flag Indiana flag
End of Watch April 27, 1936
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 455
The Vigil Panel 71 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Officer Richard Rivers was shot and killed by members of the Brady Gang who had gone to a doctor's house to have a companion's gunshot wounds treated. Officers went to the home of the doctor in response to a report that a man at that address had suffered a gunshot wound. Officer Rivers was gunned down in a hail of machine-gun fire upon their arrival. The gang members all fled the scene and two were captured a year later. Another suspect was convicted of bank robbery and the murder of Trooper Paul Minneman of the Indiana State Police on May 27, 1937, under federal law and sentenced to death. On November 18, 1938, he was executed by electrocution at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. Although never proven, the Brady Gang was also suspected of murdering Officer Frank Levy of the Anderson Police Department on November 25, 1935. Officer Rivers had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 13 years.

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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.
Officer Rivers gave the Indianapolis Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rivers.

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

Agency

Department Indianapolis Police Department
Type Other
Location Indianapolis, Marion County, IN
Platform Identity ipd.marion.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1936
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge Number 455
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1936, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Richard had served 13 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%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

Across the years

Officer Richard Rivers

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch April 27, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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