Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Charles Sanderson

Clay County Sheriff's Office — Clay Center, NE

Felonious

End of Watch September 16, 1914

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Sanderson was shot and killed while investigating a murder near Harvard, Nebraska. While on the scene he was informed that a subject was walking nearby. When the subject ignored Sheriff Sanderson's orders to stop the Sheriff fired a warning shot in the air. As he did so, the man turned and shot Sheriff Sanderson. The man fled but later committed suicide as he was cornered by a posse.

Survivors

Sheriff Sanderson was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NE-C8BF9B21
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 Sanderson served with the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Clay Center community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Sanderson.

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

Agency

Department Clay County Sheriff's Office

Location Clay Center, NE

Platform Identity ccso.clay.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 16, 1914

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Sheriff Charles Sanderson 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NE — Statewide

of 151 officers

64.2% 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. Charles Sanderson'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 Charles Sanderson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Sanderson is highlighted in Sep.

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. Charles Sanderson was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518