Charles Chester Jackson
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Charles Chester Jackson

Des Moines Police Department — Des Moines, IA
Felonious
End of Watch December 16, 1918
Age 46
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Badge CHIEF
The Vigil Panel 36 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Charles Jackson was shot and killed after he and several other officers responded to a house after receiving a tip that a wanted man was there. The officers were met at the door by the suspect's wife. After gaining entry they began searching the home and located the suspect in a bedroom. As they called out his name the suspect began firing, striking Chief Jackson in the chest. Chief Jackson was able to return fire, wounding the suspect. The suspect stayed in the residence for 30 minutes before running out of the back door. Officers opened fire on him and fatally wounded him. Chief Jackson was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries four days later. Chief Jackson had served with the Des Moines Police Department for 16 years. He is buried in Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Jackson gave the Des Moines Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Jackson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Des Moines, Polk County, IA
Platform Identity dmpd.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1918
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number CHIEF
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 46. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Des Moines Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Chief of Police Charles Chester Jackson

Des Moines Police Department · End of Watch December 16, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-E

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