Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Sunday, May 17, 1925
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 17, 1925
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Allen Shoemaker was shot and killed while conducting a train check in Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Officer Shoemaker ran across nine men riding in the gondola car. Officer Shoemaker turned his flashlight on them and demanded to know what they were doing. One man drew a gun and shot Officer Shoemaker four times.
In 1930 a Texas inmate serving a seven year sentence confessed that he killed Officer Shoemaker and gave explicit details that convinced Iowa officials that he was his murderer. Iowa officials asked that he be returned, but for some unknown reason Texas officials refused.
Officer Shoemaker had served with the agency for four years. He was survived by his wife.