George William Mattern
Agency patch
Officer

George William Mattern

Des Moines Police Department — Des Moines, IA
Felonious
End of Watch April 12, 1918
Age 28
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 11 mo
Badge 54
Gender Male

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

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 1918
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 11 mo
Age 28
Badge Number 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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

George was 28. 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. George had served 1.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Officer George William Mattern

Des Moines Police Department · End of Watch April 12, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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