Roll of Honor
Incident
Keeper Charles Ernst was beaten to death by an inmate inside one of the county jail's cells.
The inmate, who was scheduled to be executed the following day for a previous murder, had ripped the pipe from the cell's floor. The pipe had been fastened across the floor to hold down down the floorboards. When Keeper Ernst entered the cell the man struck him on the head five times, causing fatal injuries.
Keeper Ernst died from the injuries five days later.
Keeper Ernst was survived by his wife and children.
Survivors
Keeper Ernst was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-80505495- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Charles. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Keeper Ernst served with the Greene County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Catskill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Keeper Charles Ernst 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Greene County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Ernst's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Ernst Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1874
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Ernst is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Ernst was killed by blunt object; iron pipe.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Greene County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
