Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Brant Nine was shot and killed when he and another officer responded to a report of an individual who was passing a bad check at a jewelry store. Sergeant Nine entered the store and attempted to arrest the suspect. When a struggle ensued, the suspect grabbed Sergeant Nine's service weapon and shot him once in the chest. As the suspect fled and exited the store, he was confronted by the other officer, where gunfire was exchanged, leaving the suspect injured. Sergeant Nine was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wound. The suspect was arrested and charged. He was later sentenced to 60 years for murder and 50 years for attempted murder. In August 2009, he was denied parole. The other responding officer, Phillip D. Hochstetler, was killed in the line of duty while serving with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department on June 29, 1994. Sergeant Nine was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Nappanee Police Department for over 6½ years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, granddaughter, three brothers, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-3AFF0438- 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 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.
Sergeant Nine gave the Nappanee Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nappanee community, and 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
Brant Allen "Butch" Nine served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Brant Allen "Butch" Nine 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. Brant Allen "Butch" Nine's cause is highlighted.
How Brant Allen "Butch" Nine Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and wounded
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brant Allen "Butch" Nine is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brant Allen "Butch" Nine was killed by officer's handgun.