Left to right -
HPD Lt. E. Barber
Officer Richard A. Kennedy
Greg Walker, Esq., ARM, CPP
Supervising Sgt. Tony Mora

In the early hours of October 23, 2006, Officer Richard Kennedy was working an approved extra job providing security for the Willow Meadows subdivision. Subdivision security had equipped him with a vehicle marked “Police” that included a light bar and siren. As Officer Kennedy patrolled the streets, he saw a vehicle with its driver’s door parked in the 4300 block of Wigton. The officer paused to see if anyone was around, then circled the block and approached without his headlights. This time, the vehicle door was closed.

Officer Kennedy drove onto Greenwillow Street and saw a man in a bulky coat standing beneath a streetlight matching the description of a suspect who had been committing local home invasions. As the officer approached, the suspect moved towards him with clenched fists. Yelling threatening taunts at the officer, the suspect became louder and more menacing. Officer Kennedy radioed for assistance while the man continued yelling. The suspect then attempted to escape the officer by running behind a dumpster, and emerging with shiny objects in each hand. At that time, Officer Peter Caro and Probationary Officer Bach Tran arrived along with a K-9 unit.

Since the suspect was possibly involved in aggravated robberies where victims were held at knifepoint, it was important he did not escape by entering any residences. As the officers split up to search around a house, the suspect appeared wielding a knife in each hand. Officer Kennedy repeatedly issued commands to stop and drop the weapons as he retreated backwards. The suspect turned again and ran out of sight only to charge Officer Kennedy moments later. The man swung the knives in stabbing motions and growled as he attempted to strike the officer. Fearing for his life, Officer Kennedy discharged his weapon and stopped the suspect. It was learned that the suspect had an extensive criminal history dating back to 1980.