Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska
End of Watch: Saturday, March 14, 1987
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 14, 1987
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Sheriff Craig Dodge was shot and killed while speaking with a man at a domestic dispute call at 421 Main Street in Hickman
He had been sent to the residence on an initial report that a husband had assaulted the wife and then left. While en route another call was received that the husband had returned and threatened a neighbor with a gun and two additional units were dispatched but were approximately 20 minutes behind Deputy Dodge.
On his arrival, Deputy Dodge spoke with the witness who told him the man had a revolver and that the wife and two young children were still in the apartment. Deputy Dodge could hear the woman pleading with the man. Fearing for their safety, and knowing his backup was some time away, he decided to try to stall the man until his backup arrived. The man came to door holding his wife in front of him with an unseen revolver stuck to her back. As the men conversed for several minutes the subject suddenly raised the handgun and shot Deputy Dodge in the face.
The man fled the scene and discarded the weapon in a nearby creek before being arrested. He was convicted of first-degree murder and using a weapon to commit a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Deputy Dodge was survived by his wife, two sons, two stepsons, parents, brother, and two sisters. He had served with the agency for two years and been with other agencies for at least three years prior.