(Des Moines)– Three Iowa peace officers who died while in the line of duty…two of them from Clay county…were honored today (Mon.) at the Statehouse in Des Moines.
The Clay county officers that were honored are Deputy Frank Smith and Deputy Louis Dayton. Smith was shot to death on August 9th, 1924 while investigating a domestic disturbance. The suspect later committed suicide. Dayton was beaten to death by an unknown assailant while working undercover on illegal trafficking of liquor in Spencer. His killer was never found.
Their names will be added to the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial on the grounds of the Capitol. It’s part of Peace Officer Memorial Week in Iowa to honor the 131 Iowa officers who died in the line of duty.
(Story from the Associated Press.).
