Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Sheriff

Jacob Bell

Holmes County Sheriff's Department — Holmesville, OH

Felonious

End of Watch December 9, 1909

Age 49

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 1

The Vigil Panel 24 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Jacob Bell was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an escapee from the Massillon State Hospital. He and a deputy arrived at a home to take the suspect into custody, but the man began to run. Sheriff Bell chased after him and was about to catch him when the man suddenly turned and shot the sheriff in the chest with a 16-gauge shotgun at a distance of fewer than three feet. Sheriff Bell was able to walk into the residence but died within an hour. The suspect was located by a posse and shot and killed. Sheriff Bell had served with the Holmes County Sheriff's Department for almost four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-24E73310
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Jacob. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Bell gave the Holmes County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Holmesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Bell.

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

Agency

Department Holmes County Sheriff's Department

Location Holmesville, OH

Platform Identity hcso.holmes.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 9, 1909

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 49

Badge Number 1

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 16 gauge

Offender Shot and killed

Sheriff Jacob Bell 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%.

Holmes County Sheriff's Department

of 1 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. Jacob Bell'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 Jacob Bell Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jacob Bell is highlighted in Dec.

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. Jacob Bell was killed by shotgun; 16 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518