Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Steven Howard succumbed to a gunshot received the previous day while responding to a robbery at a local bar.
After an intensive investigation two suspects were identified. During the arrest one of the suspects was shot and killed. The other, who was a juvenile, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Captain Howard had served with the Des Moines Police Department for 27 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-34FE880B- 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 Steven. 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Captain Howard gave the Des Moines Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Howard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Steven Tabor Howard 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 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. Steven Tabor Howard's cause is highlighted.
How Steven Tabor Howard Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Steven Tabor Howard is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Steven Tabor Howard was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
