Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ernest Gaujot was shot and killed by an employee at the Lowber Gas Coal Company near Lowber.
He had caught the employee sneak a bottle of moonshine into the camp. Deputy Gaujot searched the subject, confiscated a revolver, and took the man to the coal company's office. Inside the office, Deputy Gaujot lectured the man about attempting to bring the moonshine into the camp. He then returned the revolver to the subject and released him.
As he was leaving, the man started to curse at Deputy Gaujot and act disorderly. Deputy Gaujot grabbed the subject's arm in an attempt to arrest him, but the man pulled his revolver and fatally shot Deputy Gaujot in the chest and abdomen. The subject then turned the revolver on himself and committed suicide.
Deputy Sheriff Gaujot's body was taken to his hometown of Williamson, West Virginia, and buried at the Fairview Cemetery. He is survived by his daughter, two sisters, and three brothers. Deputy Gaujot's brothers are one of five sets of brothers who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Survivors
He is survived by his daughter, two sisters, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-E15A225F- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Gaujot served with the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Greensburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gaujot.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Ernest W. Gaujot is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest W. Gaujot's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest W. Gaujot Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest W. Gaujot is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest W. Gaujot was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
