Historic Deputy Badge Returned to Ripley County Sheriff’s Office

The badge dates back to the late 1800s.

Photo by the Ripley County Sheriff's Office.

(Ripley County, Ind.) - Jeremy Brown, of Anderson, Indiana, recently came into possession of an antique sheriff's deputy badge believed to have originated from Ripley County. 

Brown found the badge while hunting for treasure with his metal detector. 

Recognizing its potential historical value, Brown voluntarily returned the badge to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office so it could be preserved and researched.

Sheriff Rob Bradley with Jeremy Brown. Photo by the Ripley County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Bradley subsequently conducted research at with the Ripley County Historical Society to determine the origins of the badge. Through historical records and archived materials, it was determined that the badge is associated with W.F. Bagot, who served as a Justice of the Peace in Ripley County after being elected in 1889, and lived in Milan, Indiana.

Bagot's Last Will and Testament stated that his sister of Anderson, IN, was appointed executor of his estate upon his death in 1935.

Further research revealed that Bagot, before his death, was documented in historical records as an eyewitness to the hangings that took place in Versailles, Indiana, in 1897. His written statement provides a rare and valuable firsthand account of that event, adding to the historical significance of the recovered badge.

"The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Brown for his honesty and commitment to preserving local history. His actions have helped return an important artifact to the community where it originated," reads a statement from the Ripley County Sheriff's Office.

The badge will be preserved at the Ripley County Sheriff's Office to ensure its story is maintained for future generations.