New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire
End of Watch: Friday, February 3, 1978
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: February 3, 1978
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Trooper Richard Champy suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a hit-and-run suspect.
He initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 89 in Lebanon after receiving a report of a vehicle running another vehicle off the road and not stopping. During the stop, Trooper Champy and another trooper struggled with the driver and passenger. During the altercation, Trooper Champy collapsed. He was unable to be resuscitated and died at a New London Hospital.
The driver pleaded no contest to driving while intoxicated, was sentenced to 30 days plus a $500 fine, and was fined $100 for failing to stop after an accident. The passenger was found guilty of resisting arrest and intoxication and was sentenced to 30 days and fined $220 for resisting arrest and $27.50 for intoxication. He was found innocent of assaulting Trooper Champy.
Trooper Champy was a United States Navy Vietnam War veteran and had served with the New Hampshire State Police for eight years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, and brother.