Name : Guerzon, Richard 

Rank: Det.
Shield #: 3312 Command: Queens District Attorney Sqd.
Date of Death: 1989-11-13   Cause of Death: Shot By Prisoner
     
 On November 13, 1989 at approximately 1:45 P.M., Detective Guerzon and Detective Keith Williams were shot and killed by a prisoner they were transporting to Riker's Island. The Detectives had picked up the prisoner at Riker's Island in the morning and brought him to the Queen's District Attorney?s office so a Polygraph test could be conducted. After arriving they secured the prisoner in a room by handcuffing him to a pipe on the wall they left the suspect alone. While he was left alone the suspect was able to break into a locker that was within his reach and steal a gun. After the polygraph test was cancelled the Detectives placed the suspect, who was rear cuffed, back into their car and began to drive back to Riker?s Island.

As the officers drove on the Grand Central Parkway near LaGuardia Airport the suspect suddenly produced a hand-gun and opened fire on the two detectives. Detective Guerzon was shot twice and Detective Williams three times. The attack was sudden and neither officer had time to return fire. After the vehicle collided with a utility pole on the shoulder of the roadway, the prisoner un-cuffed himself with the detectives handcuff keys and fled on foot. The gunman was apprehended ten hours later in Brooklyn. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Detective Guerzon was assigned to the Queens District Attorney Squad. He had been on the force for 20 years.  
 
     
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Comments from Friends    
     
My father and Richie were very good friends. They were on the job together and I think they were friends before they were cops. We went on family vacations and our families spent a lot of time together with Richie, Irene and their sons. He was a great guy.
— Tina
Although I never met Det. Richard Guerzon, I have found a friend in his eldest son, Richard. Richard is a kind and compassionate man; one of the greatest human beings I have ever met. He has influenced me in so many positive ways and enriched my life to such great extent over the years. I love him very much, as do all the people he has touched with his special gifts. If Richard is ever in need, I will be there for him. I understand Det. Guerzon possessed the same wonderful qualities, and they have been transcended to his son. For this, I am very grateful. And the world is a better place. May God bless the soul of Mr. Ricard Guerzon and all of his family.
— Robert Crocitto
REST IN PEACE.
— sjs
Posted: November 2, 2006, 5:54 am
rest in peace.
— sjs
Posted: November 7, 2006, 7:42 am
Richie was my brother and I will never be able to quite understand or come to terms with his sudden and untimely death. It continues to cause a great deal of pain and irreconcilable loss. There were so many more things to be done, said and shared...I have read here today that it has been 18 yearsand the passing of time has not significantly healed my wounds. I am glad for the wonderful nephews he left-Rich & Mark- I see him in them. I have learned the painful lesson that tommorow is promised to no one. Tell the people that you love , that you love them everyday. I don't know why we find it so easy to be unkind to one another, yet so difficult to express our love...
— Margie Guerzon Fox
Posted: August 9, 2007, 10:04 pm
My husband was one of the investigative dectective at that time and was heartbroken having to handle this horrific case. Detective Guerzon will forever remain in his heart! May he rest in peace and may God forever bless his family.
— Anna Nilda
Posted: July 29, 2008, 3:23 pm
i can hardly believe that it is almost 20 years sinc richie was killed....i worked with him in queens narcotics for a number of years....i was a narc fron 1971 until 1977 and i loved richie...loved his sense of humor and his love for his fellow "narcs"...i will awlays think fondly of him
— richard kufner
Posted: May 20, 2009, 8:41 pm
I was the wife of Det. Richie Guerzon at the time of his murder. We were married for 12 years and I was stepmom to Rich and Mark. Richie and I were overjoyed to add two more sons to our family, Christopher and Steven. I would like to correct Margie Guerzon-Fox that she has four nephews. I know that Richie would be proud of the fact that all four of his sons turned out to be wonderful men, just as I am.
— Madeline Guerzon
Posted: August 17, 2009, 11:46 am
I met Richie when I worked in OCCB Narcotics in the mid 70's to mid 80's. I remember the last time I saw him was off duty in a restaurant on Long Island. He mentioned that he was approaching his 20yr mark, it was only a short time later that he was slain. He was a really nice guy and a great loss.
— Bob Dezendorf
Posted: January 28, 2010, 1:37 am

 

 

Those who bloom in the hearts of others never fade away