Dubuque County Sheriff's Department, Iowa
End of Watch: Monday, October 12, 1925
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 8 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 12, 1925
Weapon Used: Handgun; .25 caliber
Suspect Info: Two arrested; One committed suicide
Jailer Leo Hemmer was shot and killed as he brought food to the prisoners he was guarding.
As Jailer Hemmer opened the door to a holding area to deliver food, he was jumped by three prisoners, one of who pulled a revolver out of his pocket and shot and killed Jailer Hemmer. It is unknown how the revolver was smuggled into the jail. One of the suspects was arrested later that day.
Three weeks later deputies surrounded a house in Clinton, Illinois, where Jailer Hemmer's killer and anther suspect were found to be hiding. The killer shot and killed himself. The other 20-year-old suspect surrendered. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on April 4, 1936.
Jailer Hemmer had been employed with the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department for eight months, and was survived by his wife, two children, his mother, and several brothers and sisters.