Battle Ground, WA \u2013 Battle Ground Police Department (BGPD) Sergeant Richard \u201cRick\u201d Kelly died in the line of duty on Aug. 10 after suffering a medical emergency.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 54-year-old sergeant was on duty when the medical issue struck, the City of Battle Ground said in a\u00a0press release<\/a>\u00a0the following day.His exact cause of death was not immediately released.<\/p> The Vancouver Police Department is handling the ongoing death investigation, as per standard protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe City recognizes that this is a profoundly personal matter and is respectful of his family and their privacy,\u201d Battle Ground city officials said. \u201cThe City and Police Department are offering their assistance to the family in their time of need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sgt. Kelly joined the BGPD in 2005 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2019, The Columbian<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSgt. Kelly was an incredibly valued member of our community,\u201d the city said. \u201cA husband, father, brother, friend, neighbor, protector; Sgt. Kelly was many things to so many people. He will be deeply missed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dozens of people offered their condolences to Sgt. Kelly\u2019s family and coworkers in response to the city\u2019s announcement<\/a> of his passing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWords don\u2019t come easy. Rick was such a good man,\u201d one message read. \u201cMy heart goes out to his family, BGPD, to staff at the City of BG, and to the community. One cannot remember Rick without smiling, even through the grief. What a beautiful gift he left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSergeant Rick Kelly stopped me in Battle Ground in Feb 2022,\u201d another person wrote. \u201cHe was most kindhearted and amiable LEO I\u2019ve even encountered. I could tell he was an amazing person. I\u2019m shaken to see this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many thanked him for his years of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is so sad. He was such a kind human and definitely made the world a better place,\u201d another citizen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n