Austin W. “Melvin” Richardson

On June, 14th 2022, Deputy Sheriff Austin W. “Melvin” Richardson was involved in a vehicle collision with a harvesting combine on Highway 275 and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Richardson was 37 years old and had served as a first responder in multiple capacities for 15 years.

Richardson was born on April 5th 1985 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was adopted at a very young age and was raised on a farm just outside of Percival, Iowa by his mother, Vicki and his father, Uwe. Alongside his older brother Dennis, and his older sister, Nicole, the family enjoyed playing outside, going on exhilarating vacations and spending quality time together. Ever since he was young, Richardson dreamed of becoming a firefighter or a law enforcement officer, and he eventually became a volunteer firefighter and a reserve deputy.

Richardson attended school in Hamburg, Iowa and graduated from Hamburg high school in 2004. In the years following, he attended Peru State college and studied criminal justice for three years before entering and graduating from the police academy. Richardson began his law enforcement career with the Auburn, Nebraska Police Department and served there for four years. Following this, he worked as a police officer for Sidney, Iowa and eventually began a career with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department in 2015. Richardson was also a member of the Sidney Fire and Rescue and the Percival Fire and Rescue.

Richardson is remembered as a true family man. He was a supportive husband to his wife, Jennifer, and loving father to his three daughters Bryxtol, Cheyenne, and Everly. Richardson loved helping those who were in need, and assisting people who were less fortunate. He was incredibly kind, and always put others before himself.

Deputy Sheriff Austin W. “Melvin” Richardson is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and three daughters, Bryxtol, Cheyenne, and Everly.