Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Swearingen was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a man for assault. When the man initially refused to surrender his friends attempted to talk him out of his home. After waiting a day Marshal Swearingen tried to arrest him again and was shot in the neck. A posse shot and killed the suspect in his home.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-88DDEC19- Stewardship
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- 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 Swearingen served with the Jefferson Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jefferson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Swearingen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal John Swearingen 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. John Swearingen's cause is highlighted.
How John Swearingen Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Swearingen is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Swearingen was killed by gun; unknown type.