Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Harold Steele was shot and killed while he and a deputy attempted to serve a warrant on a man for failing to appear in court. The man had refused to let utility company employees onto his property and threatened them with a shotgun. The suspect shot Sheriff Steele with a 12-gauge shotgun, and then shot and wounded the deputy who was with him. The suspect fled into the country side. He was arrested one week later and charged with murder. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one to 20 years in prison on February 7th, 1971. Sheriff Steele had served in law enforcement for 20 years. He had been sheriff for 14 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-B75EF70E- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Steele gave the Vinton County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the McArthur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Steele.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Harold A. Steele 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 Vinton County Sheriff's Office, 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. Harold A. Steele's cause is highlighted.
How Harold A. Steele Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 1 to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harold A. Steele is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harold A. Steele was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Vinton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
