Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Fletcher Collins

Vinton County Sheriff's Office — McArthur, OH

Felonious

End of Watch October 8, 1925

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 50 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff Collins was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant. Sheriff Collins located the man, and another wanted man, in a field between Coalton and Jackson. The suspect told the sheriff not to come any closer and opened fire with a shotgun as the sheriff crossed over a fence. The suspect was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. He was pardoned by Governor White on December 19, 1934. Sheriff Collins was survived by his wife and five children. His wife was appointed to fulfill his term as sheriff, becoming the first female sheriff in Ohio's history.

Survivors

Sheriff Collins was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-F51D5129
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Collins served with the Vinton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the McArthur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Collins.

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

Agency

Department Vinton County Sheriff's Office

Location McArthur, OH

Platform Identity vcso.vinton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1925

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Pardoned in 1934

Sheriff Fletcher Collins 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.

Vinton County Sheriff's Office

of 2 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. Fletcher Collins'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 Fletcher Collins Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Pardoned in 1934

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fletcher Collins is highlighted in Oct.

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. Fletcher Collins was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Vinton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.