Railroad Detective Benjamin Earl "Red" Gaughenbaugh, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

Railroad Detective Benjamin Earl "Red" Gaughenbaugh

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

End of Watch Thursday, July 4, 1935

Benjamin Earl "Red" Gaughenbaugh

Detective Benjamin Gaughenbaugh suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after struggling with a drunken male at the railroad depot in Beardstown, Illinois, on an excessively hot day.

He was able to place the subject under arrest and walked him to the Beardstown Police Department. As he was waiting to book the suspect, he suffered a heart attack and collapsed.

Detective Gaughenbaugh had been in law enforcement for 12 years while serving as a four-term sheriff of Appanoose County and a guard at the Fort Madison Penitentiary, both in Iowa. He was also a Canadian military veteran and served as a sniper in WWI. Detective Gaughenbaugh was survived by his wife, daughter and father. He was buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville, Iowa.

Bio

Age 41
Tour 12 years
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Heart attack
Location Illinois
Weapon Person
Offender Apprehended

DIP

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Most Recent Reflection

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Rest in Peace Detective Benjamin (Red) Gaughenbaugh Thank You for your Service and Sacrifice protecting America's steel roadways.

I Pray for Peace for your Family, Friends and Co-Workers. I also Pray that the scum who was the cause of your death forever burn in the lake of fire.

Amen.

Senior Special Agent B.L. Sherwood (Ret)
Port Terminal Railroad Police Houston, TX

July 6, 2016