Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Robert D. Lester

Crawford County Sheriff's Department — Prairie du Chien, WI

Felonious

End of Watch March 21, 1844

The Vigil Panel 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sheriff Lester was shot and killed after being ambushed by a Indian. He was paddling down a river in a canoe when the suspect opened fire from an ambush position behind a tree. The suspect was apprehended a few days later and charged with murder. It was determined that he intended to rob Sheriff Lester. Charges against the suspect were dismissed seven months later when the only witness did not show up for the trial. A few days later the suspects body was found. His throat had been cut from ear to ear.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-91CB8BAB
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

182 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Lester served with the Crawford County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Prairie du Chien community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Crawford County Sheriff's Department

Location Prairie du Chien, WI

Platform Identity ccso.crawford.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1844

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Killed

Sheriff Robert D. Lester 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Crawford County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% 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. Robert D. Lester'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 Robert D. Lester Compares

Offender Outcome

Killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert D. Lester is highlighted in Mar.

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. Robert D. Lester was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518