Aurora, IL – Today, the Aurora Police Department commemorated the valiant service and sacrifice of Officer Thomas Richardson, who passed away on April 18, 1928, after being shot by a suspect during an arrest attempt.
Officer Richardson had intercepted two young male suspects involved in a series of car thefts, from Bloomington to Aurora. Despite a preliminary search, one suspect managed to shoot Officer Richardson with a hidden .25-caliber pistol as they approached the police station.
Severely wounded, Richardson bravely returned fire, incapacitating one suspect, while the other fled but was later captured in Bloomington. The shooter, only 17 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison, later reduced to 60 years.
Officer Richardson, who served the Aurora Police Department for five and a half years, is survived in memory by his wife and three children. His story remains a poignant reminder of the enduring risks and sacrifices faced by law enforcement officers.
