Why Does Rich Wear an Eye Patch on 'RHOD'? It's a Heartbreaking Story

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Why does Rich wear an eye patch on 'RHOD'? LeeAnne Locken's husband suffered a devastating injury at paintings. Read the heartbreaking story right here.

Allison Cacich - Author

A big storyline on this season of The Real Housewives of Dallas is LeeAnne Locken’s marriage ceremony to longtime love Rich Emberlin. The duo’s decade-long romance has been neatly documented on the Bravo show, however no longer a lot is understood concerning the groom outdoor of his dating with LeeAnne.

As it turns out, Rich has some prior fact TV enjoy — and the story in the back of his distinctive eye patch is a heartbreaking one.

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Why does Rich wear an eye patch on RHOD?

For 30 years, the father of one served with the Dallas Police Department, spending 17 of those years as a member of the Dallas SWAT staff. "His job was very dangerous, and I lived with him when all of that was going on," LeeAnne informed The Daily Dish in 2018. 

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"When we started dating, he was a SWAT officer. He'd go on call-outs, and I'd sit at home for hours, 'Is he alive? Is he dead? Is someone gonna take me to a hospital?' I mean I was scared for the doorbell to ring," she added.

In 2016, Rich used to be pressured to retire from the police pressure after sustaining an damage to his right eye that left him permanently blind. "While there are light and shadows, the vision in his right eye is gone forever," LeeAnne defined in an interview with Bravo. 

"The transition into retirement has been difficult, but, as is his true nature, he finds new ways to continue to serve others," she persevered. "His career hasn’t stopped, as he is now working on a book and has begun doing speaking engagements. He makes me so proud, and I am humbled and thankful to know and love him."

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Rich additionally has steel plates in his face and rods in his back from on-duty injuries.

Earlier this year, Rich published that he’d been shot at on more than one occasions and was once once stabbed within the hand, however his emotional scars are tougher to maintain. 

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"It’s hard being 'that guy,' especially among your peers… The guy who shot someone out of self-defense, or the guy who wasn’t able to save a kid, or prevent a deadly accident," he shared. "We are just human beings watching people do inhumane things."

Rich has gave the impression as a law enforcement subject matter professional on a variety of crime shows.

The Texas local may also be observed in segments on A&E Network’s The First 48, Dallas SWAT, and Live PD. He also worked as a technical director on the Outdoor Channel competition collection Elite Tactical Unit.

Throughout most of his low points, Rich has had LeeAnne by his facet. "He's my universe. He's everything," the brunette good looks instructed The Daily Dish. "He's my security. He's my protector. He's my Prince Charming. He's my provider. And he's my best friend." 

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Rich proposed in September 2017 with a 10-carat ring at the Texas State Fair. "It was the happiest carnival prize ever," LeeAnne said at the time. Their marriage ceremony came about a yr and a half later at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. 

Catch LeeAnne and Rich on new episodes of Bravo’s RHOD Wednesdays at Nine p.m. ET.

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