https://www.odmp.org/officer/7602-police-officer-richard-john-klass

Police Officer Richard John Klass
Daly City Police Department
California
End of Watch: Thursday, June 9, 1966

Biographical Info
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: 34

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, May 6, 1966
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life imprisonment

Officer Richard Klass was shot with his own weapon during a struggle with a suspect.

On May 6th, a man was being booked into the Daly City jail on Wellington Avenue, on a charge of indecent exposure.
As the officers were trying to fingerprint him the suspect
broke away and fled down Mission Street toward San Francisco. An all-points bulletin was broadcast and Officer Klass spotted the fugitive.

He chased the fugitive on foot, landing him with a
flying tackle about a block across the city line into San Francisco. A struggle ensued and the suspect took Officer Klass' gun from him and shot him in the back, striking several
vital organs. The suspect fired again at the officer's face, but another officer arrived and deflected the gun barrel.

He was rushed to Mary's Help Hospital where he underwent surgery for the removal of his spleen, a kidney and his
pancreas. He was paralyzed from the waist down from damage to the spinal cord. As he was being prepared for
a routine exploratory operation on June 9th, he died unexpectedly from a heart attack.

The suspect was committed and later convicted of Officer Klass' murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. His first conviction was overturned and he then plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to serve five years to life.

Officer Klass had served with agency for three years. He was survived by his fiancee, mother, father, and sister.

Sources:

Story: http://www.odmp.org/officer/7602-police-officer-richard-john-klass

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