Deputy Sheriff Richard Anthony Herzog

Deputy Sheriff Richard Anthony Herzog

King County Sheriff's Office, Washington

End of Watch Saturday, June 22, 2002

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Richard Anthony Herzog

Deputy Sheriff Richard Herzog was shot and killed with his own service weapon after responding to a call at about 5:00 p.m. involving a naked man creating a disturbance in the roadway on Coal Creek Parkway.

When Deputy Herzog, who was wearing a vest, arrived on the scene, he attempted to subdue the man with pepper spray. The spray did not affect the man, who then attacked Deputy Herzog. Deputy Herzog's service weapon, a .40 caliber Glock, was knocked to the ground, and the magazine came out of it.

The suspect picked up the weapon and replaced the magazine. As Deputy Herzog attempted to retreat, the suspect shot him once, knocking him to the ground. The suspect then stood over him and shot him ten more times before fleeing to a nearby apartment. The man was apprehended approximately 45 minutes later. The suspect had been released from jail only 11 days earlier after serving several months for assaulting a police officer.

The suspect was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder on August 19th, 2004. On September 23rd, 2004, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Deputy Herzog was a United States Army veteran and had served with the King County Sheriff's Office for seven years. He was survived by his wife and two teenage daughters.

Bio

  • Age 46
  • Tour 7 years
  • Badge 1297777
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Officer's handgun
  • Offender Sentenced to Life without Parole

disturbance

Most Recent Reflection

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I visited the Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia this Veterans Day 2020 with a lot on my mind given the changing fortunes of time. My Father was Law enforcement in Bellevue Wa. , and passed in 2005 of Cancer. I have driven by the Memorial for Deputy Richard Herzog many times on Coal Creek Parkway in Bellevue because I have property in the area. As a kid, I use to roam the pastures that are now Apartments and townhomes dreaming, discovering and imagining. Never considering such a vehemently grotesque tragedy could and would take place steps from my childhood utopia. I have always had difficulty reconciling the Deputies last moments, with a naked man standing over him, as the community watched, he was executed. The trauma of his thoughts as each of ten shells entered his body is inconceivable. I pray that at some point he found a conduit to that that he perceived to be Devine, and deservingly left this earth with the dignity that he had earned.
Rest In Peace Deputy Herzog, as an anonymous neighbor graciously acknowledges the ultimate sacrifice born by both you and your Family.
THANKYOU

Charles Fredrickson
Neighbor

May 30, 2022

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