May 15th is Peace Officers Memorial Day. The day honors local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

There are two Washington law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty on June 25th, 1930. Washington City Marshal Aaron Bailey and Washington County Sheriff William Sweet were shot in the Washington County Courthouse after arresting a man for stealing a car in Ottumwa. 

Washington is also the hometown of FBI Special Agent Terry Anderson, who was killed in 1966 while rescuing a kidnapped 17-year-old girl in Pennsylvania in what is known as the Shade Gap Incident. He was honored at Elm Grove Cemetery in 2016, on the 50th anniversary of his death.

Each year in May, State of Iowa leadership, law enforcement, and families gather at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial in Des Moines to pay tribute to fallen peace officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. This year’s ceremony will be held today.