Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Charles Oglesby was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three men stealing a ride on a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train in Winamac, Indiana.
Sheriff Oglesby was requested to assist the engineer in removing three hobos from the train. The engineer had found them during a stop in Star City and ordered them off, but they refused. Unbeknownst to the sheriff, the three men were not hobos but actually a gang of safe-crackers who had recently burglarized the Marsh store in Burnettsville in White County.
As Sheriff Oglesby approached, one of the three suspects ran from the train up the railroad tracks north from Pearl Street in Winamac. The other two suspects stood their ground. Both men fired shots at Sheriff Oglesby, and the sheriff returned fire. The second suspect attempted to run from the scene and was hit below the left shoulder by one of Sheriff Oglesby's bullets as he climbed a fence. The third suspect fired again at the sheriff, this time hitting him in the chest; however, before he could escape, he was shot in the abdominal area by Sheriff Oglesby.
Sheriff Oglesby was taken to his home, where he died several hours later in the company of his family. A posse was quickly deputized and set out after the bandits. Two suspects were found wounded in a cornfield just north of Winamac and surrendered without incident. The third suspect was captured along the railroad tracks north of Winamac.
The suspect that was wounded by Sheriff Oglesby later died of his wounds. The other two suspects were sentenced to prison.
Sheriff Oglesby had served with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department for only 10 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-08E9C7FB- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Oglesby served with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Winamac community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Oglesby.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Charles Henry Oglesby 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%.
At Pulaski County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Henry Oglesby's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Henry Oglesby Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Henry Oglesby is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Henry Oglesby was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Pulaski County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
