Richmond Police Museum, Va.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 152 years ago;

Captain D. G. Tourgee - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Sergeant James T. Cox - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer James Carter - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer William R. Cray - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer John R. Meagher - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer Michael McCarthy - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer John Kerr - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer James A. Seay - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer Julius Schultz - Wednesday, April 27, 1870
Officer James M. Walker - Wednesday, April 27, 1870

Captain D. G. Tourgee and the listed Richmond Police members died as the result of injuries they sustained in the Virginia Capitol Disaster.

On April 27th, 1870, a balcony collapsed inside of the Virginia State Capitol, killing 62 people, including 12 law enforcement officers. Ten being members of the Richmond City Police Forces.
Following the Civil War, the United States Army installed a mayor in Richmond. In January 1870 Virginia's governor appointed a new city council, which then appointed a new mayor. However, the previous mayor refused to cede the mayorship and the city operated with two mayors and governments, including two separate police departments.

The balcony collapse occurred during a Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals hearing to determine which of the city's two mayors and police departments was considered legitimate. Because of the interest in the case, hundreds of citizens crowded onto the balcony to view the case. The weight of the spectators caused the structure to give way, killing dozens of elected officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens, and injuring hundreds more.

Following what became known as the Capitol Disaster, the court reconvened and ultimately ruled that the newly appointed mayor was the legitimate mayor.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 124 years ago;

Officer Robert D. Austin - Monday, April 11, 1898

Officer Austin was shot and killed while on patrol in Richmond's business district. He encountered two suspects burglarizing a business at Fifth and Broad Streets and was shot when he took action. The two suspects were never apprehended.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 87 years ago;

Patrolman Horace C. Parker - Wednesday, April 3, 1935

Patrolman Parker was killed in a motorcycle accident when his police motorcycle was struck by a vehicle at Lady and Cary Streets. He had been with the agency for eight years.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 152 years ago;

Officer Richard O. Busch - Sunday, March 20, 1870

Officer Richard Busch was shot and killed at the intersection of Broad Street and Jefferson Street as he and several other officers attempted to disperse a large group of men who were creating a disturbance.

When the officers arrived at the location part of the group left the area, but many refused to leave. At around 9:00 pm several shots were fired at the officers and Officer Busch and a detective were struck. Officer Busch died at the scene but the detective recovered.

Officer Busch was survived by his wife and two children. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.

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NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 52 years ago;

Patrolman David A. Cooper – February 10, 1970

Patrolman Cooper became a Richmond Police officer on April 24, 1967. In the early morning hours of February 10, 1970, he responded to assist a fellow officer who was involved in a serious automobile accident at the intersection of First and Grace Streets. While passing through Belvidere and Broad streets, his cruiser was struck by a north-bound vehicle. Patrolman Cooper died hours later at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital.

He was survived by his wife and stepson.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 84 years ago;

Patrolman William Snead – February 5, 1937

Patrolman Snead joined the ranks of the Richmond Bureau of Police on May 1, 1920. Patrolman Snead had just completed the evening shift on February 5, 1937 and was walking along East Broad Street. Patrolman Snead encountered a man who had just broken the front window of a jewelry store with a hammer. As he attempted to apprehend the burglar, the man fatally struck him on the head with the hammer, fracturing his skull.

The subject then took Patrolman Snead's service weapon and shot him in the face before fleeing. A citizen who witnessed the incident followed the man and alerted other officers. The man was shot and killed while resisting arrest.

Patrolman Snead had served with the Richmond Police Department for 17 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.

We Appreciate all active and retired Law Enforcement Personnel on this day and every day of the year.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 46 years ago;

Patrolman Edwin H. Stephenson, Jr. - December 13, 1974

On April 19, 1971, Patrolman Stephenson was sworn in as a member of the Richmond Bureau of Police. He was with Patrolman Leward Rich working out of the Task Force Unit. The officers were responding to assist another officer and they died in an automobile accident at Brook Road and Westwood Avenue. Patrolman Edwin H. Stephenson, Jr. was 23.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 47 years ago;

Patrolman Leward R. Rich – December 13, 1974

On August 10, 1970, Patrolman Rich was appointed to the Richmond Bureau of Police. On December 13, 1974, while en-route to join another police unit in pursuit of a stolen vehicle, he lost control of his police unit at Brook Road and Westwood Avenue. The police unit struck a tree killing Patrolman Rich and his partner, Patrolman Edwin H. Stephenson, Jr. He was 28 and had received the Excellent Police Duty decoration several times during his short career.

NEVER FORGET and ALWAYS HONOR the OFFICERS that made the ultimate sacrifice. On this date 59 years ago;

Patrolman Luther K. Nuckols – December 8, 1962

Patrolman Nuckols became a member of the Bureau of Police on June 15, 1935. On December 8, 1962, the veteran officer responded to a bar at 609 Louisiana Street in the Fulton section where a break-in was in progress. The burglar ran and was chased for a considerable distance by Patrolman Nuckols before escaping. Patrolman Nuckols walked back to the scene of the burglary, slumped to the ground, and died of a heart attack in his 27th year as a Richmond officer.