Special Deputy Sheriff Douglas Warren Sanford – Hamilton County Sheriff's Department

Special Deputy Sheriff

Douglas Warren Sanford

Hamilton County Sheriff's Department

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Age: 48

Served: 18 years, 5 months

Badge #: 3901

Panel 38E, Line 33 (2023)

Included (2022)

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Duty-related illness
Date/Time of Incident: Sunday, November 28, 2021
Incident to Death Duration: 121 days
Incident Location: 18100 Cumberland Road, Noblesville
Incident County: Hamilton
Incident Township: Noblesville
Weapon Used: None
Suspect Disposition: None
Burial Place: Cremated

Special Deputy Sheriff Douglas Sanford died from complications after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during an ongoing global pandemic.

After becoming infected while assigned to the Animal Control Division, he was hospitalized where he remained until he passed away.

Special Deputy Sheriff Sanford, from Sheridan, was assigned as the animal control supervisor and had previously served with the Ionia County Sheriff's Office in Michigan as a reserve deputy for seven years, Indianapolis Animal Care Services as an animal control officer for three years and the Carmel Police Department as a community service specialist for two years.

He was survived by his wife, Heather (née Wright); son, Holdan (Erlmae); daughter, Brittney (Earl); mother, Sharon; and sister, Janero (Steve) Babcock.

Historical Notes

• Special Deputy Sheriff Sanford is the third of five Indiana line of duty deaths in 2022.
• He is the first line of duty death of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department.
• His line of duty death is the fifth that has originated from Hamilton County.

As of January 10, 2026, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused 1,237,779 deaths in the United States and 28,271 deaths in Indiana. From November 2020 through January 2021, the deadliest wave was responsible for 7,140 deaths with the highest occurring in December 2020 when 3,038 died statewide, at the same time two vaccines first became available to the general public. The pandemic has caused 885 known law enforcement officer deaths in the United States.

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Special Deputy Sheriff Sanford

Incident Details

• Special Deputy Sheriff Sanford is the third of five Indiana line of duty deaths in 2022.• He is the first line of duty death of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department.• His line of duty death is the fifth that has originated from Hamilton County.

• Special Deputy Sheriff Sanford is the third of five Indiana line of duty deaths in 2022.
• He is the first line of duty death of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department.
• His line of duty death is the fifth that has originated from Hamilton County.