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Maurice M. Baggs
Incident
Conservation Officer Maurice Baggs drowned in the Little Sioux River, in Cherokee, when he fell from a dam while attempting to help a fisherman. He was attempting to walk across the Illinois Central Railroad dam to check the licenses of a group of fishermen. The water had risen over the dam due to recent rain and he lost his footing. He was able to take off his hip boots in an attempt to swim to safety but was washed downstream and drowned.
Survivors
Officer Baggs had served with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for 14 months and was assigned to Buena Vista, Cherokee and Pocahontas Counties He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Conservation Officer Baggs gave the Iowa Department of Natural Resources 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Baggs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Iowa Department of Natural Resources has lost 3 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Maurice is one of 71 officers lost to accidents in IA, 31.4% of the 226 remembered there.
Maurice is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Maurice is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1942, 2 officers in IA were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 50 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 3.
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.
In 1942, 82 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 52nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Maurice was 32. Of the 69 lost to accidents in IA whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48; the middle age was 38. Maurice had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Maurice was 32. 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. Maurice had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Maurice was 32. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Maurice had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 9.9% of these deaths in IA; June holds the most, 16.9%. Saturdays: 9.9%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 66.7% of all 3 deaths at Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.4% of all 226 deaths in IA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Iowa Department of Natural Resources has 3 officers remembered here, Maurice among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Iowa Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
