Indiana State Police, Indiana
End of Watch: Thursday, July 5, 2007
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 17 years, 7 months
Badge Number: 5398
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 5, 2007
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Master Trooper David Rich was shot and killed while investigating an apparently stranded vehicle on U.S. 24 near State Road 115, one mile west of Wabash in Wabash County.
Master Trooper Rich, who was on his way home in plainclothes and in an unmarked squad car, stopped to help a motorist he believed was stranded at about 4:00 pm. Master Trooper Rich was not aware the man was driving an SUV that his father had reported stolen the previous day from their home in Gaylord, Michigan. Upon approaching the vehicle, the suspect opened fire with a shotgun through the driver's window, striking Master Trooper Rich in the chest, who was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest but had his service weapon drawn.
The suspect reloaded the shotgun and then committed suicide.
Master Trooper Rich had served with the Indiana State Police for over 17½ years and was assigned to the Peru post as a detective. He was survived by his wife, 7-year-old daughter, twin 4-year-old sons, parents, sister, and brother, who serves as a captain with the Indiana State Police. His father is a retired Indiana State Police trooper and former two-term Miami County sheriff.
In 2008, a Memorial Mile was designated on U.S. 24 on the bypass in Wabash in his honor.