Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Rarey was shot and killed as he and five deputies searched for a suspect near Platte Lake. A woman who had gone to her cottage at the lake discovered that a man had been using it all winter. The woman contacted the sheriff's department who began searching for the man. As the deputies searched other nearby cottages Undersheriff Rarey confronted the man. The suspect shot him in the neck and then fled across the frozen lake. The 36-year-old suspect, who was on parole from the state prison, was arrested three days later and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied a new trial in 1949. He had a parole hearing in 1963 but the outcome is unknown.
Survivors
Undersheriff Rarey was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-8E2FB863- 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.
Undersheriff Rarey served with the Benzie County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Beulah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Rarey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Undersheriff Edward Rarey 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 Benzie 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. Edward Rarey's cause is highlighted.
How Edward Rarey Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward Rarey is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward Rarey was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Benzie County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
