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Deputy Sheriff

Donald Earl Rice

Eaton County Sheriff's Department — Charlotte, MI

Felonious

End of Watch December 10, 1985

Age 35

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Deputy Rice was struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting a disabled motorist on a highway. The drunk driver sideswiped Deputy Rice and then fled the scene. The man was apprehended and sentenced to seven-and-a-half to fifteen years for manslaughter.

Survivors

Deputy Rice had been with the agency for nine years and was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-2B78165F
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.
Deputy Sheriff Rice gave the Eaton County Sheriff's Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rice.

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

Agency

Department Eaton County Sheriff's Department

Location Charlotte, MI

Platform Identity ecso.eaton.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1985

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 15 years

Deputy Sheriff Donald Earl 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Eaton County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Eaton County Sheriff's Department

of 3 officers

100% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% 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. Donald Earl 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 Donald Earl Rice 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 15 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Earl Rice is highlighted in Dec.

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. Donald Earl Rice was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Eaton County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.