Hancock County Sheriff's Office, Iowa
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 4, 1930
Age: 56
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: S41-1
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: February 4, 1930
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Sheriff Ernest Wahlert was accidentally shot and killed when his revolver fell from its holster and discharged.
The sheriff and a deputy were pursuing bootleggers during a snow storm when their vehicle left the road and became stuck in the snow. As the two attempted to push the car out of the snow, Sheriff Wahlert's revolver fell from his shoulder holster, discharged, and the bullet struck him in the chest.
Sheriff Wahlert had served with the agency for only 1 year. He was survived by his wife.