George M. Butcher
Agency patch
Marshal

George M. Butcher

Missouri Valley Police Department — Missouri Valley, IA
Felonious
End of Watch August 16, 1911
Age 45
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 25 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Butcher was shot and killed while searching two suspects. One of the men suddenly pulled out a handgun and shot Marshal Butcher twice. Although wounded, Marshal Butcher was able to return fire until he was shot a third time and killed.

It was later discovered that both suspects were brothers who had escaped from Anamosa Prison. Both drowned when they attempted to swim the Missouri River near Omaha, Nebraska, in an attempt to escape a pursuing posse.

Marshal Butcher had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and six children.

Survivors

Marshal Butcher had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-01DF6AD2
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal Butcher gave the Missouri Valley Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Missouri Valley community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Butcher.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Missouri Valley, Harrison County, IA
Platform Identity mvpd.harrison.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1911
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Marshal George M. Butcher 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.

Missouri Valley Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
IA — Statewide
129
of 226 officers
57.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George M. Butcher's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How George M. Butcher Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George M. Butcher is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Missouri Valley Police Department are honored on badge.nw.