Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Sheriff

Ben K. Perry

Adams County Sheriff's Department — West Union, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 1953

Age 64

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Ben Perry was shot and killed on Ohio State Route 41 by two hitchhikers he stopped to question about a robbery. One of the subjects shot Sheriff Perry as he approached them and then fled in his patrol car. They abandoned the car when it became stuck in mud near Tulip. Five days later, they were captured 200 miles away near Antioch in Monroe County. Both suspects had escaped from the London prison camp on December 29, 1952. They were both convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison on May 3, 1953. The shooter died in prison January 9, 2002. Sheriff Perry had been sworn in as sheriff exactly one week before being murdered and had previously served with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-E6BEA0AE
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ben. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Perry gave the Adams County Sheriff's Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the West Union community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Perry.

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

Agency

Department Adams County Sheriff's Department

Location West Union, OH

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1953

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 64

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Life in prison

Sheriff Ben K. Perry 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%.

Adams County Sheriff's Department

of 1 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. Ben K. Perry'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 Ben K. Perry Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Life in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ben K. Perry is highlighted in Jan.

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. Ben K. Perry was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518