Liberty County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Monday, February 3, 2020
Add to My HeroesRichard Edward Whitten
Deputy Sheriff Richard Whitten succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound sustained on May 29th, 2019, while responding to a shots fired call in Cleveland.
He was en route to a training class and had just driven past the scene of the double-murder when the shooting was dispatched over the radio. As he responded back to the scene and encountered the suspect fleeing in a vehicle. Deputy Whitten and a member of the Cleveland Independent School District Police Department pursued the subject onto CR 2243, where the man immediately pulled into the parking lot of a veterinary office.
As Deputy Whitten challenged the subject the man produced a handgun and opened fire, striking him in the neck and paralyzing him. The other officer returned fire as the subject fled. The man later committed suicide after being located by other officers.
Deputy Whitten was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital, in Houston, in critical condition. On February 3rd, 2020, he suffered a complication while undergoing physical therapy and passed away.
Deputy Whitten had served with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office for four years.
Bio
- Age 52
- Tour 4 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Wednesday, May 29, 2019
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Committed suicide
Most Recent Reflection
View all 134 ReflectionsPraying for your family, friends, colleagues, agencies during this very difficult time for them and all of us. Thank you for your service! We shall remember you with pride and admiration always! May God Bless the Blue!
“The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons [children] of God.” [Matthew 5:9 HCSB];
“Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.” [Matthew 5:4 HCSB], and;
“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13 HCSB]
Depart in peace, Brother-in-Blue; in the name of God the Father who created you; in the name of Christ Jesus who redeemed you; in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May you rest in peace and dwell forever with the Lord. Amen.
Chaplain Steven R. Closs, D.Div, MSBS, CIMT, NCCA
Ordained/Licensed/Certified Independent Ecumenical Clergy / Chaplain
Ministry: Law Enforcement Chaplaincy
Merrimack, NH 03054
Chaplain Steven R. Closs, D.Div, MSBS
Nashua NH and Merrimack NH Police Departments
July 1, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths
Captain Steven M. Gaudet, Jr.
Pearl River Police Department, LA
EOW: July 16, 2020
Lieutenant Erik K. Lloyd
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NV
EOW: July 29, 2020
Master Detention Deputy Richard Barry
Lake County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: July 16, 2020
Police Officer Sheena Dae Yarbrough-Powell
Beaumont Police Department, TX
EOW: August 9, 2020
Corrections Officer Daniel G. Oaks
Yakima County Department of Corrections, WA
EOW: August 1, 2020
Special Agent John Bost, III
United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, US
EOW: July 28, 2020
Sergeant Steven Splan
Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety, MI
EOW: August 2, 2020
Sergeant Corey Pendergrass
Lauderhill Police Department, FL
EOW: July 26, 2020
Master Sergeant Henry Turner
Louisiana Department of Corrections, LA
EOW: July 18, 2020