Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Lammy was shot and killed by two suspects wanted for the murders of Undersheriff Milton Coleman, of the Dunn County, Wisconsin, Sheriff's Department and Deputy Charles Coleman, of the Pepin County, Wisconsin, Sheriff's Department on July 10, 1881.
The suspects had been observed near Mozier Island by a deputy from the Pike County Sheriff's Department. The Pike County sheriff alerted Sheriff Lammy and the two sheriffs, along with their deputies, began searching for the men. The suspects were located walking along a dry creek bed near Bay, Illinois, by two members of the posse. A shootout ensued and the two deputies were wounded.
Sheriff Lammy heard the shots and immediately raced to the creek bed on his horse and joined in the shootout. As he assisted one of the wounded deputies to safety, he was shot in the head by one of the suspects who was firing a Winchester rifle.
The two suspects stole horses belonging to the deputies and fled the scene.
Sheriff Lammy had served as sheriff for seven years.
The two suspects were the notorious Williams brothers, Ed and Lon. Robbers and murderers for years they were regarded by Wisconsin citizens as being as great as Frank and Jesse James. On November 7, 1881, Ed was captured in Grand Island, Kansas. He was taken to Durand where he was seized by an angry mob and hanged from a tree. On October 29, 1882, Lon was captured in Dodge City, Kansas, and returned to Wisconsin. He mysteriously disappeared from the Durand jail.
Survivors
He was survived by his father, two brothers and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-596ADC68- 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
145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Lammy gave the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hardin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John Lammy 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Calhoun County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Lammy's cause is highlighted.
How John Lammy Compares
Offender Outcome
One lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Lammy is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Lammy was killed by rifle; winchester.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Calhoun County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
