Marion County Sheriff's Office, Indiana
End of Watch Sunday, December 25, 1988
Add to My HeroesThurman Earl Sharp
Lieutenant Earl Sharp was shot and killed while checking several buildings on foot in the early morning hours of Christmas Day while working a second employment job.
It is believed that he interrupted a burglary of a gun store that was adjacent to the property he was patrolling at 9300 Priority Way West Drive. After being shot, Lieutenant Sharp was dragged to a remote entrance of a building and left for dead. His patrol car was then hidden behind a dumpster in an area with heavy equipment. He was found by his relief officer, who was to work the day shift.
Lieutenant Sharp had worked the late shift on Christmas Eve to allow another officer to be home with his family.
Lieutenant Sharp had served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for 22 years. He was survived by his wife, five children, and grandchildren.
His brother-in-law, Deputy Chief Gary L. Martin of the Lake County Sheriff's Department, was killed in the line of duty on August 22, 2006, along with Indiana State Police Lieutenant Gary Dudley.
Bio
- Age 55
- Tour 22 years
- Badge 67
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Never solved
Most Recent Reflection
View all 52 ReflectionsRest in peace Lt. Sharp.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
December 27, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar
Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: April 16, 2024
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024
Lieutenant Michael Hoosock
Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024
Sergeant William Marty Jackson, II
Winchester Police Department, KY
EOW: April 14, 2024
Police Officer Ross Bartlett
Ceresco Police Department, NE
EOW: April 12, 2024
Chief of Police Steven Allen Singer
Lake Lafayette Police Department, MO
EOW: April 8, 2024
Correctional Sergeant Andrew John Faught
Illinois Department of Corrections, IL
EOW: April 8, 2024
Police Officer Joseph McKinney
Memphis Police Department, TN
EOW: April 12, 2024
Special Agent Derek Sean Baer
United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, US
EOW: April 9, 2024