1986 4 5 Rich Gordon J
Officer Gordon J. Rich

Entered Division of Police
August 26, 1963
Died In the Line of Duty
April 5, 1986

In the early morning hours of April 5, 1986 Officer Gordon Joe Rich, 45, died in the line of duty. Officer Rich was working a federal traffic enforcement program when he stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 at State Route 315.  While Officer Rich was writing a citation, he was attacked by one of the occupants of the vehicle, who gained control of his service revolver and shot him twice. Officer Rich, a 23-year police veteran, died a short time later at Mt. Carmel Medical Center.  A witness to the altercation followed the assailants as they fled the scene.  They abandoned their vehicle on the city’s near east side, and were apprehended later the same morning.