Ronald L. Lampe
Agency patch
Sergeant

Ronald L. Lampe

Felonious
End of Watch January 9, 1980
Age 40
Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo
Badge 33-5
The Vigil Panel 122 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Ronald Lampe was shot and killed while attempting to serve a narcotics warrant on a home with five other officers. Two plainclothes officers went to the front door and attempted to gain entry by claiming they were there for a party that was going on. The suspect was nervous and did not let the officers in. They walked back down the street and informed Sergeant Lampe of the situation. Sergeant Lampe decided to continue with the warrant service and proceeded to the back door with two officers while three other officers went to the front door. The officers in the back knocked on the door but did not receive an answer. They then entered the dark house and identified themselves as officers. While they searched the house the suspect opened fire with a .22-caliber rifle, striking one of the officers in the chest, wounding him. Sergeant Lampe was also struck several times and died of his wounds. The suspect was apprehended but was acquitted during trial after claiming he did not hear the knock on the door or the officers announcing themselves and that he fired in self-defense. Sergeant Lampe had served with the Henry County Sheriff's Department for 6½ years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-0D2B286A
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.
Sergeant Lampe gave the Henry County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Castle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Lampe.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location New Castle, Henry County, IN
Platform Identity hcso.henry.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 9, 1980
Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo
Age 40
Badge Number 33-5
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Sergeant Ronald L. Lampe 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Henry County Sheriff's Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald L. Lampe's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ronald L. Lampe Compares

Age at Death
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald L. Lampe is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald L. Lampe was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Henry County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.