Roll of Honor
Incident
Jailer Runke succumbed to injuries received two months earlier when he was attacked in the Lewis County Jail. He was passing out dinner when three inmates assaulted him with a broom handle and hot coffee. He remained hospitalized for two months until his death. The 18 year-olds were being held for the Air Force in connection with an escape from military confinement in Colorado. They had been arrested after they were stopped in a stolen car in Yakima two weeks before the assault. They were connected with several home burglaries in Lewis County. They were convicted of escape, assault, two counts of burglary and grand larceny and sentenced to 80 years in prison. No charges were filed against the three after Jailer Runke died. The county coroner reported he died from a blood clot not necessarily caused by the three.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-89E52314- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Jailer Runke gave the Lewis County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chehalis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jailer Runke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer Ernest Runke 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 WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lewis County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Runke's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Runke Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Runke is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Runke was killed by blunt object.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Lewis County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
