The DEA Honor Roll
Official Line of Duty Deaths
Ronald A. Richards
Rank: Detective, second grade
Shield Number: 6788
Command: Bomb Squad
Date of Death: 10/10/2015
Cause of Death: Illnesses contracted as a result of work on the rescue and recovery from the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001.
Det. second grade Ronald A. Richards retired on April 1, 2008 out of the Bomb Squad. Richards joined the New York Police Department in June of 1990. He was promoted to Detective in August of 2003, and received second grade in January of 2008. An 18-year veteran of the NYPD, Richards served in several commands during his career, including the 78 and 120 Precincts, Emergency Service Squad Truck #5, and the Bomb Squad. He made 138 arrests over the course of his time with the Department, and received eight awards, including six for Excellent Police Duty, one for Meritorious Police Duty and a Commendation. Richards suffered for years from a variety of WTC related cancers and he died on October 10, 2015 as a result of his work on the rescue and recovery from 9/11.