Age:  40
Served:  1 year
December 31, 1928 to December 31, 1929

During December 1929, Sheriff Lange, Dearborn County's 37th sheriff, was travelling the roads looking for James Anderson, a suspect in an earlier shooting at a home brew camp on the Whitewater River.  He spotted Anderson walking by the road and offered him a ride. Sheriff Lange was not wearing a uniform and his badge was pinned to his clothing under his overcoat.  His coat came open exposing the badge and Anderson opened fire.  Sheriff Lange was struck in the abdomen and transported to Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati.  He died several days later of peritonitis due to the gunshot wound and exactly one year after taking office.  While on his death bed, he gave a death bed statement implicating Anderson. 

Sheriff Lange was survived by his wife, Maymie, and a daughter, Stella (14), and buried in Lawrenceburg on January 4, 1930. 

Sheriff Lange was the first Dearborn County law enforcement officer reported to have suffered a line of duty death.  Mrs. Lange was appointed to fill out his unexpired term, becoming the first and only woman to serve as Sheriff in Dearborn County.

Anderson was arrested, charged, and convicted of Murder.  He appealed and years later his conviction was upheld by the Indiana Supreme Court.  After twenty years, he was paroled.

This narrative was compiled with information provided almost entirely by Chris McHenry of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.