Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Speth succumbed to gunshot wounds received the previous day when he attempted to remove a man from his hotel room. He had been ordered to escort the man to the police station to answer questions regarding a fraud investigation. The man refused to leave his room and shot Patrolman Speth when he forcefully tried to make him go. Patrolman Speth was able to return fire, as well as other officers arriving on the scene, seriously wounding the suspect. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 17 years in prison. He was pardoned by Governor N.E. Kendall October 1, 1921.
Survivors
Patrolman Speth was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-EAC759F0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Speth gave the Davenport Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Davenport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Speth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Emil Arthur Speth is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 3.2 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Davenport Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Emil Arthur Speth's cause is highlighted.
How Emil Arthur Speth Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Emil Arthur Speth is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Emil Arthur Speth was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Davenport Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
