Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Frank M. Morrison

Hardin County Sheriff's Department — Kenton, OH

Felonious

End of Watch May 6, 1899

Age 45

The Vigil Panel 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Frank Morrison was shot and killed by a farmer, near Kenton, after he arrived at the man's home to arrest him on a charge of stealing clover seed.

The man met the sheriff with his double barrel shotgun. When Sheriff Morrison announced the purpose of his visit, the farmer pulled the trigger, killing Sheriff Morrison instantly. He then placed the other barrel against his own head and killed himself.

This account does not match the findings in the Union County coroner's report. It is held by the Union County Records Center & Archives. The perpetrator used a .38 caliber pistol on himself.

Michael L Benson May 18th, 2023

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-F0F17017
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

127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Morrison served with the Hardin County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kenton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Hardin County Sheriff's Department

Location Kenton, OH

Platform Identity hcso.hardin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 6, 1899

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Committed suicide

Deputy Sheriff Frank M. Morrison 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%.

Hardin 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. Frank M. Morrison'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 Frank M. Morrison Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank M. Morrison is highlighted in May.

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. Frank M. Morrison was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518