Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Abner Whitney was shot and killed after he and several other officers surrounded a house where two robbery suspects were hiding. When the officers entered the house the suspects opened fire, killing Marshal Whitney. One of the suspects was shot and killed by other officers and the second suspect was lynched by a mob.
Marshal Whitney had been with the agency for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-405ABF2E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Whitney gave the Missouri Valley Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Missouri Valley community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Abner Whitney is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 57.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Missouri Valley Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Abner Whitney's cause is highlighted.
How Abner Whitney Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Abner Whitney is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Abner Whitney was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Missouri Valley Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
