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Night Marshal

M. Anthony Swatta

West Des Moines Police Department — West Des Moines, IA

Felonious

End of Watch March 1, 1933

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Night Marshal Anthony Swatta was shot and killed when he responded to the sound of a gunshot in front of the Valley Junction City Hall. A man who had just shot his step-son shot the marshal as he approached. The suspect then shot and killed himself.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-D71BD539
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.
Night Marshal Swatta served with the West Des Moines Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the West Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Marshal Swatta.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department West Des Moines Police Department

Location West Des Moines, IA

Platform Identity wdmpd.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 1, 1933

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Night Marshal M. Anthony Swatta 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 West Des Moines Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Des Moines Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. M. Anthony Swatta's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How M. Anthony Swatta Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. M. Anthony Swatta is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. M. Anthony Swatta was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from West Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw.