Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Billy Ihrig died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Deputy Ihrig had served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for over 17 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Deputy Sheriff Billy Joe Ihrig died on October 28, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 52.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his four sons, two daughters, longtime girlfriend, two grandchildren, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-5141C915- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Deputy Sheriff Ihrig gave the Franklin County Sheriff's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ihrig.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Billy Joe Ihrig is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OH, 49 of 991 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 4.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.
At Franklin County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 9 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 22.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Billy Joe Ihrig's cause is highlighted.
How Billy Joe Ihrig Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Joe Ihrig is highlighted in Oct.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Franklin County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
