Richard D. Arundell

Richard D. Arundell served in the United States Air Force and worked as an investigator before he joined the New York City Police Department on 16 June 1951. He became a detective with the 17th Detective District in Queens, carrying shield 251.

At about eleven on the night of 8 February 1963, he and his partner, Detective Gerrit Stip, saw a car run a red light at Woodhaven Boulevard and 62nd Road in Rego Park. They followed it until its two young occupants abandoned it and ran. Two and a half blocks into the chase Detective Arundell felt a severe pain in his chest, but the partners caught one of them, a 17-year-old, who gave up his companion, and they arrested the second at his home. Arundell was then taken to a hospital in Queens, where he suffered a heart attack and died a short time later. Doctors attributed it to the chase and the struggle, and his death was ruled in the line of duty. He was 36.

He lived in Rosedale with his wife, Rita, and their four children, aged two to eight. His brother John was a patrolman in the Harbor Unit. After an Inspector's funeral at St. Pius Church in Rosedale on 13 February 1963 he was buried in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale. On 19 October 2024 the corner where the chase began was named in his honour.

Detective Richard Arundell suffered a fatal heart attack after pursuing two suspects. At about 11:00 p.m., Detective Arundell and his partner saw a car run a red light at the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and 62nd Road. They attempted to stop the vehicle, and both occupants bailed out of the vehicle and took off on foot. His partner fired three warning shots and shouted for the two to stop. The Detectives were able to apprehend one of the suspects after a brief chase. After the chase, Detective Arundell felt pains in his chest. He was admitted to the hospital and died a short time later. Doctors attributed his death to the stress of the chase. Detective Arundell was a United States WWII Army veteran and served with the New York City Police Department for 11 years, assigned to the Detective Division. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried at Saint Charles Cemetery in East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.