Peter B. Martin
Agency patch
Constable

Peter B. Martin

Marion Police Department — Marion, IA
Felonious
End of Watch October 23, 1905
The Vigil Panel 20 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Peter Martin was shot and killed by a woman while attempting to serve a writ of execution at her home at 323 7th Avenue in Cedar Rapids.

Constable Martin was removing furniture from her home to satisfy a judgement when she arrived on the scene and shot him inside her home, killing him instantly. Cedar Rapids Police responded to the scene and arrested the woman.

At the suspects trial, her attorney argued that she had every right to shoot Constable Martin because the writ was invalid, she warned him to leave before she shot him, and he had no right to be in her home. She was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison February 16, 1906. She was paroled October 10, 1908.

At the suspects trial, her attorney argued that she had every right to shoot Constable Martin because the writ was invalid, she warned him to leave before she shot him, and he had no right to be in her home. She was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison February 16, 1906. She was paroled October 10, 1908.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-04FDC247
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Martin served with the Marion Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Marion community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Martin.

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

Agency

Location Marion, IA
Platform Identity mpd.linn.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 23, 1905
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; Revolver
Offender Paroled in 1908

Constable Peter B. Martin is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Marion Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IA — Statewide
129
of 226 officers
57.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter B. Martin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Peter B. Martin Compares

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1908

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter B. Martin is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peter B. Martin was killed by handgun; revolver.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518