Roll of Honor
Gerald Lee Uptegraft
Incident
Sheriff Gerald Uptegraft succumbed to wounds suffered two days earlier after being shot when called to a home where a young man was drunk and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend and then himself.
The man's mother called Sheriff Uptegraft, as he and the man knew each other. When Sheriff Uptegraft arrived at the home on Fulton Street in Hartford City, he was immediately confronted by the man, who held him at bay with a .22-caliber rifle. As Sheriff Uptegraft attempted to talk the man into putting the rifle down, the man left the house. The sheriff took the opportunity to call other deputies and the city police chief to the home for assistance.
Before the assistance arrived, the man re-entered the home and again held Sheriff Uptegraft at gunpoint. As the other officers arrived at the scene, they entered the home and were immediately fired upon by the suspect. The suspect then shot and wounded Sheriff Uptegraft before being shot several times. He was transported to Blackford County Hospital where he passed away.
Sheriff Uptegraft was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and the recipient of a Purple Heart. He had served with the Blackford County Sheriff's Office for 1½ years and had been re-elected sheriff to his second but unserved term.
Sheriff Uptegraft was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and the recipient of a Purple Heart. He had served with the Blackford County Sheriff's Office for 1½ years and had been re-elected sheriff to his second but unserved term.
Survivors
Sheriff Uptegraft was survived by his wife, son, mother, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sheriff Uptegraft gave the Blackford County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Hartford City community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Gerald Lee Uptegraft served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Gerald Lee Uptegraft 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 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 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald Lee Uptegraft's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald Lee Uptegraft Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald Lee Uptegraft is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gerald Lee Uptegraft was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.