Caisson Unit

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office acquired a military caisson in 2000. All associated equipment were acquired through donations. The military caisson was traditionally used to carry fallen personnel from the battlefield.

The Sheriff’s Caisson Unit was established to honor those fallen members and families of the law enforcement community as well as those in military service, or distinguished community members. Specialist Frank Smith has supervised this unit since its inception, and led efforts to fund the entire unit operation through donations.

 

In 2011, three additional members joined the unit, increasing the size of the Caisson unit to eleven members. On May 14, 2011, the Caisson Unit was honored to serve the family of Warren County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Brian Dulle. On May 10, 2011, Sergeant Dulle, 36 years old, was fatally struck by a vehicle being pursued by law enforcement officers as the sergeant tried to deploy stop sticks in front of the fleeing vehicle in an attempt to stop the pursuit. Dulle, an Edgewood High School graduate and Army veteran, had been a deputy since 1999. He was promoted to sergeant in 2005. A funeral procession of more than 550 cars followed Sergeant Dulle’s flag-draped casket on his final journey for the ten-mile ride to Lebanon Cemetery.