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Incident
Police Officer Richard Boles and Police Officer David Strzalkowski were shot and killed after responding to a call in a trailer park at Northeast 200th Street and West Dixie Highway. The call turned out to be a fake call made by a paroled felon intended to have officers respond. When they located the complainant, the man attacked them with a piece of pipe before gaining control of Officer Boles' service weapon. He opened fire, fatally wounding both officers. During the struggle, the officers were able to put out a distress call and the responding officers arrested the man. The subject had been released from prison 10 days earlier after serving seven years of a 15-year sentence for attempted murder. On August 9th, 1990, he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On April 19th, 1995, he and another death row inmate were stabbed to death by two fellow inmates in the exercise yard at the Florida State Penitentiary. Officer Boles had served with the Metro-Dade Police Department for four years and previously served with the Golden Beach Police Department and Seminole Department of Law Enforcement. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. His brother was also a police officer in Florida.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and 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 Boles gave the Metro-Dade Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Boles.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Metro-Dade Police Department has lost 25 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Richard is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Richard 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 1988, 2 officers at Metro-Dade Police Department were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1976, with 3.
In 1988, 10 officers in FL were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1988, 105 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 58th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard was 41. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Metro-Dade Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.3 and 34; the middle age was 32. Richard had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard was 41. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Richard had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Richard was 41. 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. Richard had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 14.3% of these deaths at Metro-Dade Police Department; April holds the most, 28.6%. Mondays: 14.3%.
November holds 7.6% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Mondays: 10.6%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 56% of all 25 deaths at Metro-Dade Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 28.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 10.3% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Metro-Dade Police Department has 25 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Edward Emile Fritz, Jr.
Feb 3, 1953
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Jerome R. Christman
Dec 3, 1960
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Earl Lee Johnson, Jr.
Feb 3, 1962
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Carlos S. Stuteville
Aug 22, 1964
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Paul G. Anderson, Jr.
May 7, 1967
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Johnny Edward Mitchell
Dec 31, 1971
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Harrison Crenshaw, Jr.
May 18, 1974
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Simmons Arrington
May 21, 1974
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Clark Hamilton Curlette
Apr 1, 1976
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Frank Kenneth D'Azevedo
Apr 1, 1976
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Thomas Allen Hodges, Jr.
Apr 1, 1976
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William Coleman Cook
May 16, 1979
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William Franklin Askew
Jul 24, 1979
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Edward Russell Young
Sep 23, 1981
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Cheryl W. Seiden
Jul 28, 1982
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Stephen Owen Corbett
May 28, 1983
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Robert L. Zore
Dec 25, 1983
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Richard Allen Boles
Nov 28, 1988
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David Henry Strzalkowski
Nov 28, 1988
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Jose Teodoro Gonzalez
Mar 28, 1989
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Joseph Preston Martin
Apr 27, 1990
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Thomas James Leis
Apr 29, 1990
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Evelyn Gort
Oct 30, 1993
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Robert Vargas
Feb 7, 1997
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Richard P. Wentlandt
Mar 15, 1997
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-W
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