Currently, the  general operations  of the Richmond Police Department  consists of  77 sworn officers, 15 full time civilians, 4 part time civilians and  8 contracted school crossing guards. The officers are represented by a local branch of the F.O.P.

FOUR RICHMOND POLICE OFFICERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY

RPD Memorial

RPD Memorial at Earlham Cemetery

Patrolman Amos Markle  of the Richmond Police Department, died March 13, 1884 from  the injury  he received two years earlier,  after responding to  a local riot.

While officer Markle and other  fellow officers were trying  to  disperse  the rowdy group, he was struck in the head  by a chain wielding (intoxicated) rioter, who was later arrested.

Markle never fully recovered and died from  the head injury  two years later.

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         Geo. M. Little                              Elmer Stephenson

In the early morning hours  of July 8, 1916, patrolmen George M. Little and Elmer Stephenson were both killed at the Richmond train station by  Eli Carr.  The  officers were responding to  a public intoxication  call. As the patrolmen entered the station, Carr opened fired on them. Stephenson died immediately and officer Little died shortly thereafter, but not before he and a railroad employee helped Patrolman Chas. Kuhlman subdue Carr.  Carr was wounded in the hip during the shootout by Kuhlman. Eli Carr, aged 30,  was arrested, tried and found guilty for killing the policemen and  was sentenced to life in prison. After serving over 40 years of his sentence, he was paroled in 1954 at the age of 74. Carr died December 29, 1959.

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Patrolman John Hennigar  died 10-22-1924, from  the injuries  he  received  the previous day when he was intentionally  run  off the road  by a suspect he had  chased into Ohio. The  suspect  deliberately  pointed his vehicle straight  into Patrolman Hennigar’s police motorcycle, east of New Westville in Preble County,  causing the fatal injuries.

Richmond Item; Friday, 10-24-1924. Tuesday of that week would have been the date of 10-21-1924. Patrolman Hennigar died on Wednesday, 10-22-1924.

Honor Roll for fallen Firemen and Policemen ~ Richmond, Indiana; Published in The Richmond Item; Friday, 10-23-1924. Fireman Kenney died October 23, 1924 and Officer Hennigar died October 22, 1924—both deaths occurred within  the same  24 hour period.

CHASE  BEGAN IN RICHMOND AFTER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP

POLICE THEN PURSUED SUSPECT INTO PREBLE COUNTY OHIOPatrolman Hennigar and his partner had attempted to stop the man (Clarence Ringley, age 25) for illegal transportation of  liquor. The  man was arrested the following day at the home of his sister in Camden Ohio. The moonshine runner (Ringley) was later charged with 2nd degree murder.

Antique alcohol detection devices on display at the entry of Richmond’s Police Department

RPD’s Wall display of past & current officers

RPD, FOP Memorial ~  1965

Mayor Bennett  (1831 ~ 1893) and the RPD c: 1880s

RPD Officer with bicycle at Richmond Fire Dept (Hose House #1) c: 1906

RPD ~ c: 1896

RPD ~ c: 1906 (Slain Officer, Geo. M. Little is shown 2nd from the left, middle row)

RPD ~ c: 1900 (Slain Officer George M. Little is pictured at the top left)

c: 1890s Richmond Indiana police officer

Telling  his story to a fellow officer…  at the RPD ~ c: 1916-1920s?

RPD destroying illegal alcohol in front of the old City Building c: 1920s

RPD ~ A serious group shot ~ c: 1940

RPD ~ 1940 – Looks like this photo was taken at the same place and close to the time of the one above…

These guys look like movie stars from the 1940s-1950s…

Car 106 on patrol

1970s Squad Cars

A display of RPD’s confiscated  weapons from juveniles and other information

1968 ~ The paperwork must be done

RPD Officer, Bob  Coons poses with Ronald Reagan

Officer Rowland checking out RPD’s newest technology!

Kris J. Wolski, Chief of Police, City of Richmond, Indiana

Brief Sketch;

Chief Kris J. Wolski was graduated from Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio in June, 1975.  He enrolled  at Earlham College for the Fall semester that same year, graduating  with the Spring Class of 1979. While at Earlham, he majored in Human Development, Social Relations (HDSR) and his minor was in Education. After graduating college he continued his education in Law Enforcement related areas; including Law Enforcement Training, Board certified instructor in Homicide Investigation, White Collar Crime, Crime Prevention Techniques & Strategies, and general instruction. He has been a student at  Indiana Wesleyan University (Richmond, Indiana) since 2008 and  will graduate  in February, 2010 with a Masters degree  in Business Management.  

He   began his law enforcement career in 1981, after  graduating from the  Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield Indiana. He has been  schooled  in  many areas of law enforcement, including managing police agencies; certified public safety scuba  instructor/dive rescue trainer; certified Novell Network Administrator (CNA); instructor training and certified basic open water scuba instructor; has completed swift water rescue training and certification;  is further certified  to instruct in 7 underwater specialties; police chief executive training; certified CIT (developed 40 hour training program for local public safety personnel in recognizing, handling and de-escalation  techniques dealing with mental health consumers.) This  became the first  program of its kind in this area.

He was  hired as a patrolman  by Richmond  in 1980 and continued in that capacity until 1986, when he was promoted to investigator, and in 1990 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant; 1991 detective lieutenant; from that position he was promoted to traffic lieutenant (1996), information manager (1996), patrol captain (2000), and in 2004, to Chief of Police. He manages a total of 105 people and is responsible for handling an annual budget of approximately 7 million dollars. He assists City government with annual contract negotiations with officers represented by the local FOP. Chief Wolski’s accomplishments and service to the community are well respected.

Awards ~  Officer Of The Quarter Award; Supervisor Of The Year Award; 1st recipient of Neighborhood/Community Service Award; Police Officer Of The Year; Police Officer Of The Year for State of Indiana.

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Sources: New York Times for July 8th, 1916 news notice; Richmond Indiana Police Department for departmental photos & information; 1896; &  1906 Dalbey Books, published by Nicholson Printers, Richmond, Ind.  The Officer Down Memorial Page – Dan Tate, September, 2009.

Wayne County Honor Roll

12 Police Officers Have  Sacrificed Their Lives For The Citizens Of  Wayne County, & The State Of Indiana

The Indiana State Police Alliance website lists the following Wayne County State Police (fallen) officers:

Trooper Robert E. Clevenger
Hometown: Centerville, Indiana
Appointed: September 1, 1952
District: Connersville
March 7, 1931 – September 8, 1953 (Died from injuries while engaged in vehicle pursuit)

Trooper Steven L. Bailey
Hometown: Richmond, Indiana
Appointed: November 26, 1978
District: Headquarters
October 10, 1954 – December 10, 1983 (Died from an accidental discharge of his weapon, while attempting to serve a warrant)

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department lists one Deputy killed in action.  Deputy Jack Frame  died as the result of  injuries he sustained from an auto crash. He was fatally injured during a vehicle pursuit (north of Centerville, Indiana on Centerville Road) on October 26, 1968.

Hagerstown, Indiana Town Marshall Murdered, 1905;

An exerpt follows from the Henry Clay Fox book titled Memoirs of Wayne County; 1912 (Homicide trials in Wayne County; [pg. 287]

We now come to the case of the State vs. John Knapp. A young man named Leonard Geisler was marshal of Hagerstown, and against him, so it appeared, Knapp had a grudge. One night Knapp armed himself with an iron rod, laid in wait for Geisler, and without any warning struck him a blow on the head, from the effects of which Geisler died. The act was unprovoked and without any excuse. The trial commenced Oct. 4, 1905, and lasted ten days. The jury returned a verdict of murder in the first degree, with life imprisonment. This case was appealed to the Supreme Court and affirmed.

 Hagerstown, Indiana cont.

The Officer Down Memorial page lists Hagerstown officer Jimmy M. Miller died of a heart attack while completing an endurance test at the police academy.

Fountain City, Indiana

Donald R. Goodwin ~ William P. Peters

Both officers were  shot to death  while on duty, June 7, 1970.

Cambridge City, Indiana

Marshall John Matthew Ingerman was shot by a burglar suspect and later died of his injuries.

Richmond, Indiana

Four Richmond officers have died while on duty.  Amos W. Markle ~ Elmer Stephenson ~ George M. Little ~ John W. Henningar

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