Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Eli Rentz was shot and killed with his own service weapon after he and another deputy arrested two moonshiners near Ansley. The two officers had parked their car a half-mile away so they could approach the suspects without being noticed. After handcuffing the two suspects together, the deputy returned to retrieve the car. Sheriff Rentz was leading the two out of the woods when they attacked and disarmed him. The deputy heard a shot and ran back to the scene where he found Sheriff Rentz suffering from a gunshot from his own .44 caliber service revolver. Both suspects were gone but were later apprehended. They were executed by hanging on October 3rd, 1924.
Survivors
Sheriff Rentz was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-960D26EF- 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 Rentz served with the Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jonesboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Rentz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Eli M. Rentz 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eli M. Rentz's cause is highlighted.
How Eli M. Rentz Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1924
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eli M. Rentz is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eli M. Rentz was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
