Chief of Police Vern Ervin died from a shotgun wound after responding to assist other officers who had been fired upon by a man outside the French Lick police station.

   The intoxicated subject had fired shots at his sister and niece while in their car as he had argued with them earlier. They were uninjured and proceeded to the police station to report the incident but the doors were locked.

   At some point, an Orange County deputy sheriff, the West Baden Springs police chief and a patrolman responded. As they were speaking with the women, the man returned and shot out the windshield of the chief's patrol car and they requested assistance.

   The suspect fled the scene to Brownie's service station nearby and when Chief Ervin arrived, he was killed instantly by the man with a shotgun blast to the head.

   The 38-year-old suspect was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder but was later convicted of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison where he died from natural causes in 1981.

   Chief of Police Ervin had previously served with the Orange County Sheriff's Department as a deputy for one year. He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, three grandsons, three brothers and two sisters.