Abington PD Marks 3 Years Since Passing Of Officer Bryan Rickards

ABINGTON, PA — It was three years ago today that Bryan Rickards, a 19-year veteran with the Abington Township Police Department, lost his battle with ALS.

On this anniversary date of his passing, local police are remembering the impact he made on the community.

“Rest easy Bryan. We got it from here …” read a message accompanying a December 2018 post on the police department’s Facebook page that was re-shared on Aug. 6, three years to the day after the 48-year-old succumbed to the debilitating condition, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Rickards had joined Abington in 1996 as a patrolman and in late 2006 became certified as the department’s K9 officer.

Rickards died two years after first getting diagnosed with ALS.

During his career, Rickards held various positions within the police department, everything from DARE Officer to Field Training Officer to SWAT Operator.

When he passed away, Rickards left behind a wife, two daughters and a son.

Rickards was known for not having taken a sick day during his Abington PD career for a period of 17 consecutive years.

“He was just the most funny, witty person. He’d make you smile no matter what,” police partner Officer Thomas Nyman told the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2018. “But when you were working, and things got bad, he could be a tough guy.”

Nyman was best friends with Rickards.

Rickards was a resident of Warrington, Bucks County.

More information about the fallen officer can be found here in his obituary.