Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Earl Confer was shot and killed, and another deputy was wounded in a gunfight with one of two 21-year-old men while making a traffic stop in Xenia. Deputy Confer and his partner were waiting for the armed men who had bragged about robbing a warehouse while at a gas station in Cedarville. When the vehicle ran a red light, the officers stopped the subjects at Main and Columbus Streets. The men exited their car and began shooting. Deputy Confer's partner was struck first. Deputy Confer and the subject engaged ina gunfight. The shooter was shot and seriously wounded. Both suspects were convicted of Deputy Confer's murder and sentenced to life in prison on April 25th, 1946. In 1967, the investigation of the shooting was reopened. On October 13, 1967, a judge ruled that one suspect had nothing to do with the shooting and did nothing to interfere or resist. He had him released from prison the same day. Deputy Confer had served with the Greene County Sheriff's Office for six years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. He is buried at Spring Valley Cemetery, Greene County, Ohio.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-DFAD70A0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Confer gave the Greene County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Xenia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Confer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Earl Confer is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. Earl Confer's cause is highlighted.
How Earl Confer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Confer is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl Confer was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Greene County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
