Sergeant Richard Lee Cloud

Sergeant Richard Lee Cloud | Tampa Police Department, Florida
Tampa Police Department, Florida
Sergeant Richard Lee Cloud

Tampa Police Department, Florida

End of Watch Thursday, October 23, 1975

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Richard Lee Cloud

Sergeant Richard Cloud was assassinated by members of the mob seven months after losing his job with the Tampa Police Department.

After losing his job he worked on a federal task force fighting drug dealing and organized crime. He was shot when he answered his door at his home at 404 W. Alva Street. The suspect was arrested and executed in the late 1970s.

After his death the Tampa Police Department posthumously reinstated Sergeant Cloud to his former position.

Sergeant Cloud was survived by his wife, two children, and mother.

Bio

  • Age 33
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Executed

ambush, at home, off duty, organized crime, retaliation

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I own the Penny Saver Weekly News in Tampa Florida. Dick Burdette gave my mom Linda Hope Barnhart (not the same Linda Hope mentioned in the book) several copies of the book The Last Lonely Eagle: the untold inside story of the 1975 Dick Cloud murder case Paperback – October 25, 2014 to sell for him. I have lost contact with him. If anyone has a way to reach Dick Burdette please have them call me at (813) 935-3115. I was a friend of Paris Cloud when they lived in Lutz - I was not aware at the time that I knew Pairs and Paul of the hell that their family had endured. Paris - I am so sorry for what your father and your family had to deal with of the events that I have read about in the book. It is an amazing book - a small look into shady politics and crime in and out of the Police Department and City of Tampa. Richard Cloud was a hell of a cop and an amazing person. Rest in Peace Richard Cloud - there will never be a never be another one like you. I am also so sorry for the loss of Paul Cloud.

Gail Hope
friend/newspaper owner

May 30, 2023

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