San Francisco Police Department, California
End of Watch: Friday, June 19, 1970
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 703
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 19, 1970
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Identified
Officer Richard Radetich was shot and killed when he was ambushed while writing a traffic citation.
He was working an overtime traffic detail and had stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. As he was writing the ticket, an unrelated suspect approached his vehicle and opened fire through the closed driver's side window.
A suspect in the killing was an ex-convict who was extradited from Ohio. However, the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence in 1971.
Officer Radetich had been employed with the San Francisco Police Department for 4 years. He is survived by his wife and 8-month-old daughter.