Dewey Marshall

Polk County Sheriff — Des Moines, IA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 30, 1926

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Dewey Marshall was shot and killed while accompanying the sheriff of Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri, to serve a warrant that had been issued on a man in Mitchellville, Iowa. When the officers arrived at the man's rented farmhouse one-half mile northwest of Mitchellville, the man fatally shot Deputy Marshall and wounded the Pettis County sheriff. The man took Deputy Marshall's weapon and fled into a field. The suspect, who was wanted on a hog-stealing charge, surrendered himself to the sheriff ten days later. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 17th, 1926. He was paroled in January of 1960. Deputy Marshall was a crack-shot WWI Army veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-262AF394
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Dewey. 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Marshall served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff

Location Des Moines, IA

Platform Identity polkso.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 30, 1926

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Paroled in 1960

Military Service

Dewey Marshall served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Dewey Marshall 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%.

At Polk County Sheriff, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious