Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Ralph A. Harshe

Allen County Sheriff's Department — Lima, OH

Felonious

End of Watch September 2, 1936

Age 25

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ralph Harshe was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance between a married woman and a single man. Deputy Harshe was shot upon entering the home. The suspect then murdered the woman before committing suicide. Deputy Harshe had served with the Allen County Sheriff's Department for just under 2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-0054174E
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.
Deputy Sheriff Harshe gave the Allen County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Lima community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Harshe.

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

Agency

Department Allen County Sheriff's Department

Location Lima, OH

Platform Identity acso.allen.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1936

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 9 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Deputy Sheriff Ralph A. Harshe 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Allen 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.

Allen County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% 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. Ralph A. Harshe'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 Ralph A. Harshe Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.7

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ralph A. Harshe 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. Ralph A. Harshe 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Allen County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.