MOLINE, Illinois -- Former Moline Detective Rick Ryckeghem has passed away at age 71.
Rick, a Navy veteran, had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2018 and passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2019.
Rick was a 31-year veteran of the Moline Police Deparment and was the voice and face of CrimeStoppers in the 1990s. The detective worked with WQAD to produce the Wheel of Misfortune and crime re-eanactments.
In his time as a detective, Rick took a teenager named Russ Garza under his wing. Garza was a self-proclaimed "menace to Moline," who had multiple run-ins with the detective. Ultimately, Rick served as a mentor and became a friend.
His outreach to the community didn't stop there. The husband, father and grandfather coached girls softball in the Quad Cities for 45 years. After retiring from the police force, Rick spent 12 years working for MetroLink.
Funeral services have been set for 10 a.m. Friday, March 15 at Esterdahl Mortuary and Crematory, Ltd. in Moline. A visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Rick will be buried at the National Cemetery with military honors, conducted by the American Legion Post 246.
