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Incident
Sheriff Herman Lange died the day after being shot by a subject who had shot and killed another man the previous evening.
The intoxicated subject shot the man during an argument and then fled the scene. Sheriff Lange had arrested two other men from the house where the shooting took place and was in search of the suspect.
At 5:30 am, as Sheriff Lange stopped upon seeing a man walking on Highway 52 near Braysville, he was shot in the abdomen when his badge was seen by the suspect. Sheriff Lange was able to return fire and wound the suspect before he fled into the darkness. Sheriff Lange was taken to Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, for surgery where he died the following day.
On March 11, 1930, the suspect was captured in Perry County, Kentucky, and extradited to Indiana. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1933, the governor granted clemency and commuted the offender's sentence to life in prison. He was later released from prison after serving 14½ years of his sentence.
Sheriff Lange had served with the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department for one year. He was survived by his wife, who was appointed as sheriff to serve the remainder of her husband's term, 14-year-old daughter, mother, and three brothers. Sheriff Lange's wife was the first female to serve as a sheriff in the state of Indiana.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, who was appointed as sheriff to serve the remainder of her husband's term, 14-year-old daughter, mother, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Sheriff Lange gave the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Lawrenceburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Lange.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Dearborn County Sheriff's Department has lost 2 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
Herman is one of 310 officers killed feloniously in IN, 61.6% of the 503 remembered there.
Herman is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Herman is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 5 officers in IN were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 122 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 9.
In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1929, 206 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Herman was 40. Of the 299 killed feloniously in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46; the middle age was 38. Herman had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Herman was 40. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Herman had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Herman was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Herman had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 10% of these deaths in IN; January holds the most, 11%. Tuesdays: 15.8%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Dearborn County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.6% of all 503 deaths in IN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 1.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 0.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 0.7% of these deaths.
His people
Dearborn County Sheriff's Department has 2 officers remembered here, Herman among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Dearborn County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
