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

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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 was a Canadian military veteran and served as a sniper in World War I. He 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. 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, weather

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Most Recent Reflection

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Det. Gaighenbaugh,
On today, the 90th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for Canada and the Free World when you served with the Canadian Army in Europe fighting the Germans during World War I.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

July 4, 2025