James A. Staggs

Des Moines Police Department — Des Moines, IA

Felonious

End of Watch April 20, 1928

Age 42

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 72

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 26

Incident

Patrolman James Staggs was killed in an accident while attempting to pull over a drunk driver. He and another officer were transporting a prisoner to jail when they noticed a car weaving back and forth across the roadway. Thinking the driver was drunk they pulled next to his vehicle to tell him to pull over. The driver suddenly veered towards the police car, causing Patrolman Staggs to swerve into the path of an oncoming streetcar. Patrolman Staggs was killed almost instantly. Patrolman Staggs had served with the Des Moines Police Department for five years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-46F28562
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.
Patrolman Staggs 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, Patrolman Staggs.

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

Agency

Department Des Moines Police Department

Location Des Moines, IA

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 20, 1928

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 72

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Not available

Patrolman James A. Staggs 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.

Des Moines Police Department

of 27 officers

59.3% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious