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Grand CO SO Deputy Richard D. Westwood
was gunned down on September 5, 1929, during a jail break in Moab. His
killers were apprehended a short distance from town and later sentenced
to life in the state prison.
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The following was written in the Grand
County Newspaper in September, 1929:
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An interesting career of public service
comes to a close in the death of R. D. Westwood. From the time he arrived
in Grand county in 1889, he took an active part in the affairs of the county
and in bringing law and order to eastern Utah, then sparsely populated
and the haven of outlaws and fugitives who came to this rough and
inaccessible region as a hiding out place. Many times R. D. Westwood, as
a sheriff and special officer, led posses into the desert hills on the
trail of outlaws, and many times the long arm of the law was asserted as
a result of the courage of this man and others of his type. About the year
1900, when Sheriff Jack Tyler of Grand county and Deputy Jenkins of Uintah
county were murdered in the Book mountains by a gang of outlaws, Mr. Westwood
led a posse after the murderers. He was appointed sheriff to fill out Tylerís
term. He also served as deputy sheriff many years after that, and in 1924
was appointed sheriff to succeed Sheriff Heber Murphy, resigned, serving
until the first of the year 1927. He then became deputy sheriff and marshal
of Moab, which position he held at the time of his death.
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ìDickî Westwood, as he was known to thousands
of friends throughout eastern Utah was a man of many splendid characteristics.
He was generous to a fault. His life was an open book, devoted to the service
of his country, state, county and his fellow man. His name will go down
in the history of Grand county as one of its most valuable pioneer citizens.
He died as he would have chosen to die ó in the service of the public.
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The sympathy of the people Grand county
goes out to the bereaved wife and children.
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- This page, along with the State Memorial at Utah's Capitol, is maintained by the Utah Peace Officers Association in behalf of Utah's Fallen Officers - may we never forget their ultimate sacrifice
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- Email your comments, suggestions, or information requests to
- upoa@upoa.org
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