Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Rusty Hewitt was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed pursuit on Iowa Highway 163, two miles east of Prairie City, at about 11:45 pm. He had joined the pursuit to assist the Iowa State Police and was attempting to position his vehicle in front of the suspect's car in order to slow it down. His vehicle was struck broadside during the maneuver and both he and his passenger were killed. Officer Hewitt had served as a part-time officer with the Prairie City Police Department for only seven months.
Survivors
He was survived by his son, parents, brother, and grandparents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-556CC5ED- 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.
Police Officer Hewitt served with the Prairie City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Prairie City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hewitt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Donald E. "Rusty" Hewitt is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IA, 71 of 226 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.4 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Prairie City Police Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald E. "Rusty" Hewitt's cause is highlighted.
How Donald E. "Rusty" Hewitt Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Donald E. "Rusty" Hewitt is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Prairie City Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
