Charles Lewis

Elko County Sheriff's Office — Elko, NV

Felonious

End of Watch March 2, 1925

Age 63

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Charles Lewis was shot and killed while walking a man to jail at the corner of Fifth and Idaho Streets in Elko.

The man had been arrested at a local cafe after getting into an argument with an acquaintance over who would pay the bill. As Deputy Lewis and the suspect approached the jail, a struggle ensued, and both men fell to the ground. As the suspect stood up, he produced a handgun and opened fire, killing Deputy Lewis.

The suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short time later, hiding in a nearby hotel room. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on April 18, 1925. His sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

Deputy Lewis had served as a constable and deputy in Elko County for over 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, son, four grandchildren, three sisters, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NV-964E7CD5
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Lewis gave the Elko County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Elko community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lewis.

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

Agency

Department Elko County Sheriff's Office

Location Elko, NV

Platform Identity ecso.elko.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 2, 1925

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 63

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Sheriff Charles Lewis 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 NV, 81 of 145 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Elko County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

Elko County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

71.4% Felonious

NV — Statewide

of 145 officers

55.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious