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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- 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
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
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Indianapolis Police Department has lost 59 officers; 38 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 1922, 2 officers at Indianapolis Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1922, 6 officers in IN were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 122 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 9.
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.
In 1922, 306 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
David was 76. Of the 35 killed feloniously at Indianapolis Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 40.5; the middle age was 34. David had served 39 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
David was 76. 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 39 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
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.
David was 76. 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 39 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 10.5% of these deaths at Indianapolis Police Department; December holds the most, 15.8%. Tuesdays: 36.8%.
January holds 11% of these deaths in IN, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 15.8%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 64.4% of all 59 deaths at Indianapolis Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 2.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 6.1% 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 gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Indianapolis Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, David among them.
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Hugh Burns
Aug 28, 1882
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John L. Watterson
Dec 23, 1893
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Charles A. Ware
Apr 27, 1897
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Benjamin Tobias Thornton
Jun 18, 1900
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William Edward Dolby
Jul 14, 1906
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Charles J. Russell
Sep 30, 1906
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Edward J. Petticord
Oct 2, 1906
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Samuel F. Irish
Jun 7, 1909
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Joseph Krupp
Apr 19, 1910
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Arthur F. Barrows
Jun 4, 1911
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John E. McKinney
Mar 28, 1912
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Elmer C. Anderson
Jan 15, 1915
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James D. Hagerty
Jun 23, 1916
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John P. DeRossette
Jan 30, 1917
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Marion E. Ellis
Jan 23, 1918
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Wade Hull
Sep 10, 1919
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Maurice Murphy
Mar 4, 1920
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David S. Richards
Jan 3, 1922
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William Whitfield
Nov 27, 1922
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Jesse N. Louden
Jun 17, 1923
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John F. Buchanan
Jul 9, 1926
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Charles E. Carter, Jr.
May 9, 1927
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William C. Mueller
Mar 2, 1928
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Norman Leslie Schoen
Mar 6, 1928
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Paul P. Miller
Jul 18, 1928
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Roscoe C. Shipp
Jul 24, 1929
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Carl W. Heckman
Jan 3, 1931
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Lester E. Jones
Feb 7, 1933
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Orville E. Quinnette
Dec 18, 1935
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Richard Rivers
Apr 27, 1936
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Alvie C. Emmelman
May 29, 1938
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Harry A. Bolin
Aug 15, 1940
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James J. Reilly
Jan 29, 1942
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Byron Douglas Todd
Oct 9, 1942
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Marshall R. Foster
Jul 4, 1947
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Robert J. Baker
Oct 2, 1948
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Clarence G. Snorden
Jun 26, 1951
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James T. Gaughan
Sep 8, 1951
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John L. Sullivan
Jul 23, 1952
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Arthur L. Reifeis
Mar 9, 1953
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Ray Whobrey
Apr 24, 1953
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Edward H. Berry
Feb 4, 1954
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Ralph Gerald Akeman
Mar 23, 1954
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Albert A. Kelly
Dec 6, 1956
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Donald H. Kilbourne
Nov 13, 1964
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Thomas R. Graham
Oct 12, 1965
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Robert Edward Schachte
Oct 22, 1974
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Ronald H. Manley
Dec 12, 1974
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Warren Edward Greene
Dec 20, 1975
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James M. Compton, Jr.
Mar 16, 1976
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Ernest Max Lacy
May 22, 1977
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Nathan Lincks
Oct 25, 1977
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Gerald F. Griffin
Nov 6, 1979
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Jack R. Ohrberg
Dec 11, 1980
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Paul A. Kortepeter
Jan 19, 1983
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Dave LaRue Sandler
Jun 4, 1986
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Matt John Faber
Aug 23, 1988
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Teresa Jean Hawkins
Aug 17, 1993
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Timothy Jacob Laird
Aug 18, 2004
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-E
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