Gage County Sheriff facebook page
We're Here For You!
(402) 223-5221
 

History

When William Jackson “Jack” Marion was hanged for murder March 25, 1887, he took to the grave the knowledge of what really happened to John Cameron. What he didn’t know was that he would go down in history as the last person officially hanged in Gage County as well as in the State of Nebraska. A copy of the actual death warrant served by Sheriff Nathaniel Herron is on file at the Gage County Historical Society Museum in Beatrice.

In 1986, Marion’s grandson came to Beatrice looking to pardon his grandfather. The grandson claims Marion didn’t commit the crime.  Marion was granted a posthumous pardon on the 100th anniversary of his hanging.  Click on this link for more information: https://netnebraska.org/article/news/best-2013-1887-hanging-remains-nebraskas-most-controversial-execution

Construction began on the new jail facility in 1975 and was completed in 1977. The construction added the ambulance department, a larger jail area, and office space. The jail area has the capacity to house 26 male and four female inmates. The average daily population in the jail is 20 and at times has been to full capacity but currently have been running 15-25 inmates being held in other facilities due to over population.

Fifteen communities besides the county seat, Beatrice, are located within the boundaries of Gage County.

Photos of the Sheriff's Office/Jail before addition.  First was 1918 and the second photo was taken on 10/16/61.

19181961

Beatrice was founded in 1857 and named in honor of Julia Beatrice Kinney, daughter of Judge J.F. Kinney, the first president of the Nebraska Association. The Association explored Nebraska for the purpose of selecting town sites. After surveying the streams and rolling prairie surrounding what is now Beatrice, they knew their quest was at an end.


Sheriffs

 

1857-1858
Daniel P Taylor
1880-1886
Nathaniel Herron
1921-1922
J C Emery
1858-1860
Philetus M Favor
1886-1890
E F Davis
1922-1928
John R Sailing
1860-1862
Eli B Hendy
1890-1892
William R Jones
1928-1938
Tom Dunn
1862-1866
Joseph Clyne
1892-1896
Robert Kyd
1938-1946
Ben Goble
1866-1868
Thomas W Brown
1896-1900
Lind Nelson
1946-1960
E G Ned Maxwell
1868-1870
Luther P Chandler
1900-1904
William A Waddington
1960-1982
Fred Steinkamp, Jr
1870-1872
Daniel Freeman
1904-1910
Alonzo J Trude
1982-1986
Ted Henderson
1872-1876
Leander Y Coffin
1910-1915
John L Schieck
1986-2006
Jerry O DeWitt
1876-1878
A P Hazard
1915-1919
Frank W Acton
2007-present
Millard W Gustafson
1878-1800
Eugene Mack
1919-1921
John L Schieck
 

 

 


Badges

These badges pictured below show the progression over the years of how they have changed. The ¨Special Deputy¨ badge was probably from the 50´s and 60´s, the five point star was worn up until the early 80´s at which time the seven point star was adopted by all Sheriff´s Offices in the state of Nebraska. The millennium badge was specially designed for the millennium year 2000 by V. H. Blackington Badge Company, Inc out of Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts. It was a one time die cast that law enforcement officers could purchase at that time only. Gold colored badges indicate rank held in supervision and management positions. Silver colored badges symbolize investigator, road patrol deputies, reserve deputies, part-time deputies, and transport deputies.

 

Badge 1 Badge 2 Badge 3 Badge 4 Badge 5

 

 


Old Vehicles

Old Vehicles

Pictured from left to right: Deputy Sheriff Larry Higgins; Deputy Sheriff Ronald "Buck" Zabokrtsky; Deputy Sheriff Ted Henderson; Deputy Sheriff Mike VanLaningham; Deputy Sheriff Alan Claassen; Deputy Sheriff Dan Cripe; and Sheriff Fred Steinkamp Jr.  Circa 1970's

 


 

 

Sheriff Steinkamp

Sheriff Fred Steinkamp Jr (left) and Deputy Sheriff Cal Gullion (right) are shown working with "Mike," the Sheriff´s Office dog. This was circa 1960s.

Sheriff Steinkamp and Dog

Sheriff Steinkamp and Dog 2