George Wesley Schane
Agency patch
Patrolman

George Wesley Schane

Des Moines Police Department — Des Moines, IA
Accident
End of Watch May 4, 1942
Age 28
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Badge 350
The Vigil Panel 175 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman George Schane succumbed from injuries received two days earlier when he was accidentally shot with his own weapon. He was reaching into the rear of his vehicle when his weapon accidentally discharged. The bullet passed through his body, and then ricochet into the ground in front of the municipal court building. Patrolman Schane had served with the Des Moines Police Department for one month.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Schane served with the Des Moines Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Schane.

— 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 May 4, 1942
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Age 28
Badge Number 350
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

George is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1942, 65 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 65th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

George was 28. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. George had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Patrolman George Wesley Schane

Des Moines Police Department · End of Watch May 4, 1942

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W

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