Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bob Sproat was shot and killed when he and two other officers set up a roadblock on Primary Road 74 (modern-day Highway 130), two miles east of Tipton, to stop three robbery suspects who were fleeing Davenport. When the officers stopped the vehicle, one of the men opened fire with a machine gun, striking Deputy Sproat in the chest. One suspect was apprehended at his home in Ohio several days later. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on August 13th, 1952. The other two suspects, who were brothers, remained at large until 1936, when one, identified as the shooter, was apprehended in California. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and executed in January 1938. A few weeks after his execution, the FBI discovered that his brother had committed suicide in Reading, California, on April 20th, 1934. Deputy Sproat was a United States Army Spanish War veteran. He was survived by his two brothers, four sisters, four nephews, and two nieces. He is buried at the Masonic Cemetery in Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa.
Survivors
He was survived by his two brothers, four sisters, four nephews, and two nieces.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-8118E020- 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 Robert. 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Sproat served with the Cedar County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tipton community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert G. Sproat served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Robert G. Sproat 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. Robert G. Sproat's cause is highlighted.
How Robert G. Sproat Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1938
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert G. Sproat is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert G. Sproat was killed by rifle; machine gun.