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Deputy Sheriff

Ernest C. Prouty

Jasper County Sheriff's Department — Rensselaer, IN

Felonious

End of Watch January 4, 1931

Age 44

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Ernest Prouty died from an internal infection resulting from a gunshot wound to the stomach and liver suffered seven weeks earlier. Deputy Prouty and another officer had arrested two men for the illegal sale of gasoline and a subsequent stabbing in Newland when one of the suspects grabbed the other officer's service revolver and shot him. Both were captured in Northern Indiana several days later. Before Deputy Prouty's death the shooter was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. After his death both men were charged with second degree murder. The charges were dismissed in 1935. Deputy Prouty had served with the Jasper County Sheriff's Department for four years. He was the county's first deputy and only had four months to work to be eligible for retirement.

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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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Prouty gave the Jasper County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rensselaer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Prouty.

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

Agency

Department Jasper County Sheriff's Department

Location Rensselaer, IN

Platform Identity jcso.jasper.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 4, 1931

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Deputy Sheriff Ernest C. Prouty 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%.

Jasper County Sheriff's Department

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. Ernest C. Prouty'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 Ernest C. Prouty Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 10 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest C. Prouty is highlighted in Jan.

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. Ernest C. Prouty was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518