Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Jess Sarber was shot and killed when several members of the Dillinger Gang attempted to break John Dillinger out of the Allen County Jail located at 301 N. Main Street in Lima. Around 6:00 p.m., three men entered the jail and requested that John Dillinger be extradited to Indiana. When Sheriff Sarber requested credentials, the men pulled out guns and threatened to kill the sheriff and others if they did not get the keys. Sheriff Sarber refused, and one of the men shot him and then began to beat him. Sheriff Sarber's wife gave the men the keys, requesting that they not shoot or hurt anyone else. Before they fled, they locked her in a cell. Three suspects were convicted of his murder. One died trying to escape prison, another was executed, and a third was given a life sentence and died in 1963. Sheriff Sarber had served as the sheriff of the Allen County Sheriff's Department for two years. Survivors include his wife and son. He is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos, Allen County, Ohio. Led by John Dillinger, the Dillinger Gang was a notorious group of Midwest bank robbers. Associates of the gang were responsible for the fatal shootings of 13 law enforcement officers in 1933 and 1934. Two infamous members of the gang, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, were shot and killed by law enforcement officers in separate incidents. The other gang members were either murdered by criminals, shot and killed by law enforcement officers, executed for their crimes, or sentenced to time in prison. Click here to see all the officers killed by members of the Dillinger Gang
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-42DF1B8E- 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 Sarber gave the Allen County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lima community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Sarber.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Jess L. Sarber 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jess L. Sarber's cause is highlighted.
How Jess L. Sarber Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1934
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jess L. Sarber is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jess L. Sarber was killed by rifle; machine gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Allen County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
