Chief Deputy
Joseph Bernell Bauer
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department
Saturday, January 1, 1955
Age: 27
Served: 4 years
Badge #: 2
Panel 12W, Line 26
Panel L19, Line 12
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department

Incident Details

Cause of Death
Automobile accident
Date/Time of Incident
Friday, December 31, 1954
11:40 pm
Incident to Death Duration
1 day
Incident Location
State Road 13 near Lake Wawasee
Incident County
Kosciusko
Incident Township
Turkey Creek
Weapon Used
None
Suspect Disposition
None
Burial Place
Syracuse Cemetery, Syracuse
Share this memorial

   Chief Deputy Joseph Bauer died from injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident on New Year's Eve while he was responding to a fire.

   An oncoming northbound vehicle crossed into his lane of traffic on State Road 13 south of Syracuse near Lake Wawasee and struck his patrol car head-on.

   Chief Deputy Bauer and a 26-year-old male passenger in the vehicle with him were killed. A married couple, ages 28 and 34, in the other vehicle were also killed and two passengers were injured.

   Chief Deputy Bauer, from Syracuse, was survived by his wife and two children. He had also served as a firefighter.


Military Service


United States Naval Reserve
World War II
Seaman Second Class (S2) ▪ 1945–1946



View all fallen officers from the
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department

Donate in memory of
Chief Deputy Bauer