Cole County Sheriff's Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Thursday, February 6, 1986
Age: 63
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Duty related illness
Date of Incident: January 30, 1986
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sheriff Basinger died when a blood clot from a hip injury broke loose and traveled to his heart. He had sustained the hip injury when his squad car was struck broadside at the Intersection of U. S. Highway 54 and Route E near Brazito while he was traveling to an emergency call.
Sheriff Basinger was elected to the first of 5 terms as Sheriff in 1968. Prior to that he was a member of the Cole County Sheriff's Department Auxiliary.