Lake Placid Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Thursday, August 12, 1954
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 12, 1954
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Released after 14 years
Patrolman Richard Pelkey was shot and killed in a standoff with a burglar at a cabin in Lake Placid, New York.
He and other officers had cornered a wanted burglar who was an AWOL Air Force major. The suspect, hiding in a shower stall, opened fire and struck three officers. Officer Pelkey suffered a fatal wound.
The suspect was later caught in Reno, Nevada. He was convicted of second-degree murder but only served fourteen years in prison. The man was later killed in an automobile accident in 1970.
Patrolman Pelkey had served with the agency for eight years and had previously served for five years with the Quartermaster Corps during WWII. He was survived by his wife and two children.