Roll of Honor
Incident
Keeper Charles Ernst was beaten to death by an inmate inside one of the county jail's cells.
The inmate, who was scheduled to be executed the following day for a previous murder, had ripped the pipe from the cell's floor. The pipe had been fastened across the floor to hold down down the floorboards. When Keeper Ernst entered the cell the man struck him on the head five times, causing fatal injuries.
Keeper Ernst died from the injuries five days later.
Keeper Ernst was survived by his wife and children.
Survivors
Keeper Ernst was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-80505495- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Keeper Ernst served with the Greene County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Catskill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Keeper Charles Ernst is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Greene County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Ernst's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Ernst Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Ernst is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Ernst was killed by blunt object; iron pipe.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Greene County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
