THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE   Trooper Paul G. Richey Pennsylvania State Police Troop "E" 1993-2010

Biographical Info
Age: 40
Years of Service: 16 years

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Michael J. Smith (Committed Suicide)
 

Trooper. Paul G. Richey, 40, a 16-year-veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police,
died Jan. 13, as the result of a gunshot wound suffered during an incident in
Cranberry Twp., Venango County.

Trooper. Richey was assigned to the Patrol Unit at Troop E, Franklin.

Troopers Richey and Trooper Jason Whitman responded to a call at approximately 11:34 a.m. regarding a domestic incident in the 100 block of Bredinsburg Road, Cranberry Twp., Venango County.

The troopers arrived at the scene at approximately 11:45 a.m.  After getting out of their vehicles, Tpr. Richey was hit with a shot fired from the residence.  Additional troopers responded and Tpr. Richey was removed from the scene.

Trooper Richey, of Franklin, PA,  enlisted in the State Police on May 17, 1993.   He graduated from the State Police Academy in Hershey on Nov. 10, 1993, and was assigned to Troop F, Milton.  He transferred to Troop E, Corry, on Oct. 19, 1996, and to the Franklin station on May 17, 1997.

Among Trooper Richey’s survivors are his widow, Carrie; a son, Connor, 9; and a daughter, Catherine, 6.

Trooper Richey is the 93rd member of the department to die in the line of duty since the establishment of the State Police in 1905.  His death came slightly more than seven months after the shooting death of Trooper Joshua D. Miller of Troop N, Swiftwater, who was killed during the rescue of a kidnapped child on June 7, 2009, in Monroe County.