Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Jacob Bosler was shot and killed as he assisted Urbana police officers in arresting a man during a domestic dispute. The officers had been called to a North Main Street apartment after the man's wife fled to a neighbor's home. The man refused to come out of the apartment after the Urbana officers arrived. The officers requested backup, and Sheriff Bosler came to the scene. The man told the Sheriff he would only come out if his wife were brought back to the apartment. Sheriff Bosler had the wife return to the top of the stairs and told the man she was there. When the man opened the door, Sheriff Bosler stepped inside but was immediately shot in the head and arm. Other officers returned fire and then took the suspect into custody. The suspect was committed at the Lima State Hospital for the insane on January 8, 1927, and died in 1932. Sheriff Bosler had served as Sheriff for less than two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, who finished his term as Sheriff.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-A654B5B0- Stewardship
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- 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 Bosler gave the Champaign County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Urbana community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Bosler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Jacob K. Bosler 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jacob K. Bosler's cause is highlighted.
How Jacob K. Bosler Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jacob K. Bosler is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jacob K. Bosler was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.