Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Booton was shot and killed after he and another officer stopped two suspicious men parked in front of a laundromat. The suspects were planning on robbing the laundromat and opened fire on the officers when they approached, striking Sergeant Booton in the chest. The suspects were apprehended and brought to the hospital where Sergeant Booton identified the shooter before succumbing to his injuries. Both suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One had his sentence commuted to 90 years by the governor and was paroled in 1962. He was returned to prison four months later for violating his parole. He was paroled again September 8, 1966. The other suspect died in prison May 9, 1950. Sergeant Booton had been with the agency for five years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-484E1019- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Harry. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Booton gave the Des Moines Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Booton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Harry Linn Booton 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 Des Moines Police Department, 16 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harry Linn Booton's cause is highlighted.
How Harry Linn Booton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry Linn Booton is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harry Linn Booton was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
