Richard E. Wagner
Agency patch
Police Officer

Richard E. Wagner

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI
Cardiac
End of Watch October 25, 1990
Age 42
Tour of Duty 16 yrs 10 mo
Badge 2187
The Vigil Panel 136 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Richard Wagner suffered a fatal heart attack while involved in a foot pursuit of a suspected car thief. He collapsed while chasing the suspect, who had abandoned the vehicle, through a Northside neighborhood. The suspect evaded capture. Officer Wagner collapsed upon returning to his patrol car and was rushed to the hospital. Officer Wagner had served with the agency for nearly 17 years. He was to receive a meritorious duty citation on Nov. 18, 1990 for pulling a wounded officer from the line of fire during a shootout the previous May. He was awarded the citation posthumously.

Survivors

Officer Wagner was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Wagner gave the Milwaukee Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Wagner.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 25, 1990
Tour of Duty 16 yrs 10 mo
Age 42
Badge Number 2187
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Richard is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1990, 10 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 61st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Richard was 42. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Richard had served 16.8 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

October holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Thursdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Richard E. Wagner

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch October 25, 1990

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 14-W

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