Battle Ground Police Department Sgt. Richard Kelly had a particular sense of humor.
Among those who spoke during a private ceremony at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, his daughter, Madison, recalled her father as a lot of things, “but most of all, hilarious,” she said.
“My Dad had the biggest smile on anyone’s face, even if it was in poor timing of a joke that didn’t land,” Kelly’s daughter said.
She mentioned a handful of her father’s times joking or other quirks, alongside his many loves.
“He loved his family, friends, wind chimes, the sunset, big dogs, looking nice, golf and music,” Kelly’s daughter said.
She is one of Kelly’s three children, and one of several who spoke during the service. Kelly died following a medical emergency he suffered while on duty Aug. 10.
Todd Gates, a longtime friend of Kelly’s said he was “so much more than just a police officer.”
“He was a shoulder to cry on or lean on when you needed it,” Gates said. “He was a comedian.”
Kelly began his law enforcement career with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 2000, BGPD Chief Mike Fort said. He joined BGPD in 2005 where he worked for the rest of his time in his career.
Beginning as a patrol officer, Kelly served a variety of roles during his tenure, including K9 officer, firearms instructor and detective.
Kelly was the 2007 BGPD officer of the year, and in 2009 he received the meritorious service medal, Fort said. Kelly had a keen ability for remembering faces, the chief said, which was valuable for a detective.
One of the first things Fort noticed when he arrived at the department himself was Kelly’s willingness to cancel time off if he noticed other officers were struggling to get their own. The chief said Kelly had the initiative to step up and help when needed.
Fort noted the sergeant volunteered to coordinate BGPD’s work during Battle Ground’s Harvest Days, the biggest event of the year in the city.
“Some of that had to do with [that] he didn’t like the awkward silence when we called for volunteers,” Fort said.
Fort said Kelly was enthusiastic about community events. He was usually one of the first to volunteer for Shop With a Cop or Dr. Seuss reading assignments at elementary schools.
Although some of it might be an opportunity to show off a bit, “I think he really loved the Battle Ground community,” Fort said. “That’s why he wanted to get out there so much.”
Like Gates, Fort commented on Kelly’s sense of humor.
“One-liners and quips were his specialty,” Fort said.
Though something Kelly said might make his coworkers turn their heads sideways a bit at first, “... if you thought about it a little bit” the joke would land, Fort said.
What resonated most with the chief was Kelly’s positive energy, he said. Fort recalled times where Kelly would give him reassurance on tough decisions.
“I know, for me, he was a positive influence,” Fort said.
