Indian River County Sheriff's Department, Florida
End of Watch Tuesday, September 23, 1986
Add to My HeroesRichard Rudy Raczkoski
Deputy Raczkoski was shot and killed at 3 a.m. while checking on a suspicious person using a pay phone in front of a closed convenience store at 8200 20th Street in Vero Beach.
While waiting for a cab to pick the suspect up, a handgun fell from his pants. The suspect picked up the handgun and shot Deputy Raczkoski five times in the back as the deputy attempted to take cover behind his patrol car.
The suspect was apprehended in Albany two days later. An ex-convict who had been out of prison for five months, the suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Bio
- Age 29
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .380 caliber
- Offender Sentenced to death
Most Recent Reflection
View all 25 ReflectionsRaz,
Eventhough I have never met you, I see your picture every day hanging on the wall. I want to thank you for your service. You paid the ultimate sacrifice because some dirt-bag decided that he was going to kill you simply because you were doing your job. In the old west, he would have been considered a coward, which he is in my books. You were taken to soon, but that was all part of God's plan for you. Now you are doing work that is far more better than what can be done in this broken world, and he is going to be tortured and burn in hell for eternity. I believe that is equal justice. Rest easy my brother in green!
Former D/S Paul Button
Indian River County Sheriff's Office
September 23, 2019
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