Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Louis Dayton died as the result of being severely beaten while conducting an investigation into illegal liquor manufacturing behind a building. A suspect attacked and severely beat him. He was able to make it home where he died a short time later.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-50DF61B6- 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 Louis. 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Dayton gave the Clay County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Spencer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Dayton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Louis H. Dayton 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 Clay County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Louis H. Dayton's cause is highlighted.
How Louis H. Dayton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Louis H. Dayton is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Clay County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
