Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Elbert Sweet was shot and killed as he responded to a house in Blackfoot where two men were robbing Japanese railroad workers at 5:30 pm.
Deputy Sweet was met at the door by one of the suspects, who shot him point-blank in the face. The suspects then chased the railroad foreman, who was with Deputy Sweet, into a building across the street, where they shot him three times and beat him into insensibility. A regular gun battle followed with several citizens and another deputy attracted to the scene. The deputy shot and killed one of the suspects. Physicians at the scene worked on Deputy Sweet, but he never regained consciousness and passed away within the hour.
The other suspect escaped and fled into the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, where he was apprehended the next day. He was hanged at the Idaho State Prison in Boise on December 16, 1904.
Deputy Sheriff Sweet had served with the Bingham County Sheriff's Office for five years and had served in law enforcement for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-ID-B83B88ED- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Sweet gave the Bingham County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Blackfoot community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Sweet.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Elbert Percey Sweet is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In ID, 44 of 71 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elbert Percey Sweet's cause is highlighted.
How Elbert Percey Sweet Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elbert Percey Sweet is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elbert Percey Sweet was killed by handgun; revolver.