Alexander  Smith Rice
Agency patch
Town Marshal

Alexander Smith Rice

Patriot Marshal's Office — Patriot, IN
Felonious
End of Watch April 17, 1887
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 9 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Town Marshal Alexander Rice succumbed to wounds sustained four months earlier when he was shot while breaking up a disturbance at a saloon in Patriot, Indiana.

Four men were involved in an altercation when Marshal Rice was called to intervene. While he was arresting the suspect, he was shot in the abdomen. Marshal Rice drew his weapon and more shots were fired as they held on to each other and fell to the floor. The suspect died at the scene.

Town Marshal Rice, On today, the 138th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Patriot.

BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol (Retired) April 17th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-91F45B57
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Alexander . Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

139 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Rice served with the Patriot Marshal's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Patriot community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Patriot, IN
Platform Identity pmarshal.switzerland.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 17, 1887
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Pistol
Offender Shot and killed

Town Marshal Alexander Smith Rice 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%.

Patriot Marshal's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alexander Smith Rice's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Alexander Smith Rice Compares

Age at End of Watch
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alexander Smith Rice is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alexander Smith Rice was killed by handgun; pistol.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location