Joseph Clement Feely
Agency patch
Captain

Joseph Clement Feely

Burlington Police Department — Burlington, IA
Felonious
End of Watch December 18, 1926
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Captain Joseph Feely was shot and killed when he attempted to stop a 58-year-old man who was suspected of having a gun. The suspect shot Captain Feely in the head as the captain fired back striking the suspect in the hip. The suspect was paroled from prison in 1921 after serving 12 years for murder. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison May 2, 1927. He died in prison on November 16, 1953.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-1BB0939E
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.
Captain Feely served with the Burlington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Burlington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Feely.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Burlington, Des Moines County, IA
Platform Identity bpd.desmoines.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1926
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Captain Joseph Clement Feely 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 Burlington 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.

Burlington 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. Joseph Clement Feely's cause is highlighted.

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

How Joseph Clement Feely Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Clement Feely is highlighted in Dec.

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. Joseph Clement Feely was killed by handgun.

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 Burlington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.