David S. Richards
Agency patch
Officer

David S. Richards

Indianapolis Police Department — Indianapolis, IN
Felonious
End of Watch January 3, 1922
Age 76
Tour of Duty 39 yrs
The Vigil Panel 100 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer David Richards died as the result of a complications of a gunshot wound sustained on July 2nd, 1879.

He was searching for a gang of horse thieves when he interrupted an unrelated gang of burglars who were dividing the spoils of a recent burglary. Officer Richards was shot in the foot during the ensuing shootout.

He was eventually able to return to duty but was medically retired in 1912 due continued pain and medical issues with his foot and leg. His leg was amputated on January 1st, 1922, and he died from complications of the surgery on January 3rd, 1922.

Officer Richards had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for 39 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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

39 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Richards gave the Indianapolis Police Department 39 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Richards.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 3, 1922
Tour of Duty 39 yrs
Age 76
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

David 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 76. 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 39 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Officer David S. Richards

Indianapolis Police Department · End of Watch January 3, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-E

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