Railroad Detective Benjamin Earl (Red) Gaughenbaugh
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Police Department
Railroad Police
End of Watch: Thursday, July 4, 1935

Biographical Info
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: Thursday, July 4, 1935
Incident Location: Illinois
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Detective Benjamin Gaughenbaugh suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after struggling with a drunken male at the railroad depot in Beardstown, Illinois, on an excessively hot day. Detective Gaughenbaugh was able to place the subject under arrest and walked him to the Beardstown Police Department. As he was waiting to book the suspect, he suffered a heart attack and collapsed.

Detective Gaughenbaugh had been in law enforcement for 12 years while serving as a four-term sheriff of Appanoose County and a guard at the Fort Madison Penitentiary, both in Iowa. He was also a Canadian military veteran and served as a sniper in World War I. Detective Gaughenbaugh was survived by his wife, daughter and father. He was buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville, Iowa.