Florence Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, August 22, 1989
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 11 years, 6 months
Badge Number: 209
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 22, 1989
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Lieutenant Richard Gould was shot and killed while working at the front desk at the police station in the City-County Complex at 3:00 pm.
A mentally ill person entered the station and asked to speak to the watch commander. Lieutenant Gould took him to his office and spoke to him for about five minutes before the man suddenly pulled out a .38 caliber revolver and shot him in the head. The man then ran outside of the building and shot himself in the head.
Lieutenant Gould had served with the Florence Police Department for 11-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.