End of Watch: October 7, 1991

On October 7, 1991, Correctional Officer Ronald Levert Richardson of the District of Columbia Department of Corrections was killed in the line of duty at just 36 years old.

Officer Richardson had dedicated nine years to a career in corrections when his commitment to doing his job—and his willingness to stand as a witness against a dangerous offender—ultimately cost him his life.

In November 1990, Officer Richardson was working at a halfway house when he detected a suspicious odor coming from a resident’s room. Upon investigating, he discovered crack cocaine and a large amount of cash. The resident produced a firearm and took Officer Richardson and another employee hostage before escaping.

The offender was later recaptured, and Officer Richardson became a key witness in the case against him.

Nearly a year later, on the morning Officer Richardson was scheduled to testify, he was leaving his home when he was ambushed and fatally shot as he approached his vehicle. The killing was an act of retaliation connected to the pending case. The person responsible for his murder was ultimately arrested and convicted.

Years later, Officer Richardson’s story was shared during a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring correctional professionals who had made the ultimate sacrifice. His story served as a powerful reminder that the dangers faced by correctional professionals do not always end when a shift is over.

Officer Richardson was doing what correctional professionals across the country are called upon to do every day: uphold the law, confront illegal activity, protect others, and stand for accountability—even when doing so carries tremendous personal risk.

He left behind his wife, his colleagues, and a corrections community that continues to honor his sacrifice.

On the anniversary of his End of Watch, the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation remembers Correctional Officer Ronald Levert Richardson and honors his nine years of service to the District of Columbia Department of Corrections.

Correctional Officer Ronald Levert Richardson
District of Columbia Department of Corrections
End of Watch: October 7, 1991
Age: 36 | Years of Service: 9

His service is remembered. His sacrifice is not forgotten.