Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Aaron Bailey and Sheriff William Sweet, of the Washington County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed after arresting a man for stealing a car in Ottumwa. The officers had spotted the stolen car and stopped it near the city of Washington. They arrested the driver and took him to the county courthouse. When Sheriff Sweet began to search the suspect, the man suddenly produced a .38 caliber revolver and opened fire, striking Marshal Bailey twice and Sheriff Sweet three times. Another policeman, whom the officers had picked up while en route to the courthouse, exchanged shots with the suspect but did not hit him. The suspect fled the scene and remained at large for four years. On January 6, 1934, the suspect and several other criminals were shot and killed in Illinois by members of the Chicago Police Department. The man was suspected of being an associate of the Barker-Karpis Gang and responsible for several other murders. Marshal Bailey had served with the Washington Police Department for at least four years. Survivors include his wife and daughter. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-7360D05A- 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.
City Marshal Bailey gave the Washington Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Bailey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Aaron Bailey 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Aaron Bailey's cause is highlighted.
How Aaron Bailey Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Aaron Bailey is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Aaron Bailey was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.