Richard Rudy Raczkoski, a 29-year-old white male, was a deputy sheriff with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office in Florida. On September 23, 1986, Deputy Raczkoski was tragically killed in the line of duty. The incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. when he was investigating a suspicious person using a pay phone in front of a closed convenience store in Vero Beach. While waiting for a cab to pick up the suspect, a handgun fell from the suspect's pants.
As Deputy Raczkoski attempted to take cover behind his patrol car, the suspect picked up the handgun and shot him five times in the back.
The suspect, William Reaves, was an ex-convict who had been out of prison for only five months at the time of the incident. Reaves was apprehended two days later in Albany. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1992 after seven of twelve jurors recommended the sentence. Reaves has since made multiple appeals against his death sentence, but all have been denied, including his eighth appeal for re-sentencing in 2018.
Deputy Raczkoski's death was a significant loss to the community and the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. He was posthumously awarded a Medal of Valor by the International Police Association for his dedication and bravery as a law enforcement officer. Raczkoski left behind a son, Matthew, who was born after his death and now lives in South Carolina with his mother.
