Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Henkel was shot and killed while struggling with two drunk brothers. The sheriff had been attending a community celebration in Lakeview when the two brothers arrived and starting to create a disturbance. The sheriff told the men to leave and followed them to ensure they would not return. The brothers began to struggle with the sheriff along the way and shot him twice. The brother who shot Sheriff Henkel was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. His brother was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 7 to 15 years. He was paroled in 1932 and his brother in 1949.
Survivors
Sheriff Henkel was survived by his wife, Ileea Henkel, who was appointed four days later to finish his term of office.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-433142D2- 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
You barely got started.
Sheriff Henkel gave the Montcalm County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Stanton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Henkel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Franklin B. Henkel 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 Montcalm County Sheriff's Department, 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. Franklin B. Henkel's cause is highlighted.
How Franklin B. Henkel Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1949
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Franklin B. Henkel is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Franklin B. Henkel was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Montcalm County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
