Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Geoge Mattern was shot while investigating gun shots he heard while walking his regular beat.
As he headed towards the sound of the shots he met the suspect who shot him in the abdomen. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries eight months later.
The suspect was fleeing from another officer after robbing a bar. He escaped capture and was never caught.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-921A58E9- 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
You barely got started.
Officer Mattern gave the Des Moines Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Mattern.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer George William Mattern 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 Des Moines Police Department, 16 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George William Mattern's cause is highlighted.
How George William Mattern Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George William Mattern is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George William Mattern was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
