Poland Township Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch: Sunday, November 6, 1983
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 4 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 6, 1983
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Patrolman Richard Becker was shot and killed while investigating reports of a suspicious person near a bar on State Route 170 at 1:20 a.m.
Patrolman Becker was on patrol when he pulled into the bar parking lot. A patron then told him of a suspicious man in the rear of the bar. Patrolman Becker started checking the area on foot but walked past the suspect without seeing him because of the darkness. When Patrolman Becker was about 20 feet away from the man, the original complainant yelled out that the man was behind him. When Patrolman Becker turned around, he was shot in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun. The suspect fled the scene.
Patrolman Becker was transported to South Side Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds approximately one hour later.
The suspect fled to Winchester, Virginia, where he committed suicide the following day.
Patrolman Becker had served with the Poland Township Police Department for over four years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In December 2017, Route 170 in Mahoning County was renamed the Poland Township Police Officer Richard E. Becker Memorial Highway.