Iowa Department of Corrections, Iowa
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 9, 1940
Age:
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 8, 1940
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Executed in 1941
Correctional Officer Robert Hart was shot and killed by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison.
The inmate had escaped from the prison three weeks earlier but came back and shot Officer Hart as he attempted to free a fellow inmate.
The inmate was convicted of first-degree murder and hanged on November 12th, 1941.
Officer Hart was a United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for six years. He was survived by his wife and two stepsons.