Today is National Peace Officer Memorial Day. In Washington County, a few officers have lost their lives in the line of duty. In 1976 Keota City Marshal Douglas Bell was shot and killed with his own weapon after stopping a vehicle of a burglary suspect. The suspect was able to gain control of Marshal Bell’s weapon and shot him several times in the chest. In 1931, Washington City Marshal Aaron Bailey and Washington County Sheriff William Sweet were shot to death while trying to arrest a suspected car thief. The men had spotted the stolen car and stopped it near the city of Washington. They arrested the driver and took him to the county courthouse. When Sheriff Sweet began to search the suspect, the man suddenly produced a .38 caliber revolver and opened fire, striking Marshal Bailey twice and Sheriff Sweet three times.