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Sheriff Franklin B. Henkel | Montcalm County Sheriff's Department, Michigan
Montcalm County Sheriff's Department, Michigan

Sheriff

Franklin B. Henkel

Montcalm County Sheriff's Department, Michigan

End of Watch: Friday, September 24, 1926

Biographical Info

Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 24, 1926
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1949

Sheriff Henkel was shot and killed while struggling with two drunk brothers. The sheriff had been attending a community celebration in Lakeview when the two brothers arrived and starting to create a disturbance. The sheriff told the men to leave and followed them to ensure they would not return. The brothers began to struggle with the sheriff along the way and shot him twice.

The brother who shot Sheriff Henkel was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. His brother was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 7 to 15 years. He was paroled in 1932 and his brother in 1949.

Sheriff Henkel was survived by his wife, Ileea Henkel, who was appointed four days later to finish his term of office.