DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, February 13, 1892
Age: 22
Tour of Duty: 1 day
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 13, 1892
Weapon Used: Rifle; Winchester
Suspect Info: Lynched
Deputy Sheriff Bert Hard was shot and killed while raiding a gambling den with other deputies near Arcadia, Florida.
The man opened fire on the officers with a Winchester rifle, striking Deputy Hard in the abdomen. The suspect who shot him was captured by an angry mob and lynched after being held by the mob for one week.
Deputy Hard had been sworn in on the day he was murdered to assist with keeping order while a visiting circus was in town.