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Deputy Marshal

Forrest E. Sparrow

New Athens Police Department — New Athens, OH

Felonious

End of Watch May 10, 1924

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Marshal Forrest Sparrow was shot and killed and Marshal John Dean was shot and mortally wounded as they attempted to search a home for illegal liquor. The home owner opened fire with a shotgun as the officers forced their way into his home after he refused to open the door.

The suspect said he thought the officers were robbers. He was convicted of two counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in the Ohio Penitentiary.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-E093149D
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 Marshal Sparrow served with the New Athens Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Athens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Marshal Sparrow.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department New Athens Police Department

Location New Athens, OH

Platform Identity napd.harrison.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 10, 1924

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 15 years

Deputy Marshal Forrest E. Sparrow 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At New Athens Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

New Athens Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Forrest E. Sparrow's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Forrest E. Sparrow Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 15 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Forrest E. Sparrow is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Forrest E. Sparrow was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from New Athens Police Department are honored on badge.nw.