(Photo provided)
In Porter County, local efforts recently led to the addition of a name to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall. “I would like to thank Corporal Justin Reeder of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office for uncovering a very important part of history at the Porter County Sheriff’s Office from 1944,” said Porter County Sheriff Jeffrey Balon. “Cpl. Reeder had been doing research on Porter County Sheriff William B. Forney (1916-1919, 1924-1927) who had been shot in the head, but fortunately survived. During Cpl. Reeder’s research he had unexpectedly found a news article reporting the death of Porter County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ross John Krieger who had died in the line of duty on August 24, 1944. Chief Deputy Krieger had assisted the Valparaiso Police Department in making the arrest of multiple defendants and shortly after taking them to jail he collapsed and died,” said Sheriff Balon in a news release.
“Through the diligent work of Cpl. Reeder, along with help from Porter County Deputy Coroner Doris Amling, Porter County Clerk Jessica Bailey and Kevin Nevers from the Town of Chesterton, Cpl. Reeder was able to compile information pertaining to Chief Deputy Krieger’s death and submitted it to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Upon their review of the facts surrounding Chief Deputy Krieger’s death, they determined that his death was in the line of duty and have added his name to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall located in Washington D.C.,” Balon said.
From the news release, below is the news article from 1944 reporting on Chief Deputy Krieger’s death.
“On August 26, 1944, Porter County Chief Deputy Ross J. Krieger and Valparaiso Police Patrolman Simon Rice responded to Westchester Finance Company on Washington St in reference to a brawl involving five men. Chief Krieger and Patrolman Rice quelled the disturbance and arrested three men for Public Intoxication. Shortly after booking the three men into Jail, Chief Krieger was meeting with one of the two victims when he suddenly collapsed and ultimately passed away inside the Sherriff’s Department. Chief Krieger had served with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department for 4 years. He was 55 years old and survived by his wife, Marie (Borowiak) Krieger; sister, Grace (Krieger) Mahns, Portage, IN; and nephew Lon Mahns of Portage, IN. At the time of his passing, Chief Krieger was the Republican candidate for Porter County Sheriff for the upcoming November 1944 election.”
