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Peace Officer Memorial

Every peace officer undertakes a job with inherent risks. Each of these officers were overcome by the risks of their chosen profession; this webpage tells their history. This memorial page is dedicated to the fallen officers of the state of Iowa who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect the lives, rights and property of the citizens of Iowa. The deaths of Iowa peace officers and civilians dating back to the year 1868 are recorded on this website.

The Peace Officer Memorial is fronted by a stone which explains the artist’s conception of the elements of the memorial. The stone reads: 

The three outer forms represent the three levels of law enforcement in Iowa. 

The equal spacing represents the equal sharing of responsibility.  

The circles represent the cooperation and fraternity between agencies and departments. 
The three gray paths to the center represent the agencies and departments uniting to serve, sacrifice, and mourn. 

The center pinnacle represents the service, dedication, and sacrifice shared by each peace officer.  

The top of each outer form represents the aim of each peace officer with the goal being just short of the ultimate act of giving one’s life, which is represented by the top of the center pinnacle. 

– Designed by C. Richard Webb

Iowa Law Enforcement Academy

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” 

Matthew 5:9

Peace Officer Memorial

Individuals

Departments

Years of Memorial

State

Peace Officer Memorial Criteria

The following criteria have been established by the Iowa Peace Officers’ Memorial Committee for inclusion into this sacred honor roll:

QUALIFYING CAUSES OF DEATH:

  • Felonious Causes: Any Iowa peace officer who is killed in a felonious way as a result of a line of duty incident.
  • Accidental Causes: Any Iowa peace officer who dies in an accidental way as a result of a line of duty incident.
  • Natural Causes: Any Iowa peace officer who dies of natural causes (heart attack, brain aneurysm, etc.) due to physical exertion during a stressful event while on duty.
    • Example scenarios:  Struggle with a suspect.
    • Foot chase or other pursuit of a suspect.
    • Required departmental training.

(For the purposes of inclusion on the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial, the death will only qualify as a line of duty death if hospitalization or death occurs within 48 hours of the incident and the death must be attributed to the incident by a certified medical professional. Written proof may be required. Natural cause deaths that occur while on-duty but not during or following a physical exertion during a stressful event will not be eligible.)

  • Health Related Causes: Any Iowa peace officer who dies as a result of any health related cause (illness, disease, infection, etc.) that is a direct result of the officer’s law enforcement duties.
    • Example scenarios:  Contraction of an infectious disease or illness such as Hepatitis or AIDS.
    • Contraction of an infection or illness as a result of a duty related illness.
    • Health related issues due to a HAZMAT incident. Evidence of a direct relation between a duty related incident and the contraction of a disease or illness must be presented in the form of official documentation.
  • Previous Injuries: Any Iowa peace officer who dies as a result of any criminal act or accidental cause sustained at any time while on duty before the actual date of death. Written proof, such as a coroner’s report or department records, may be required.
  • Off Duty Death: Any Iowa peace officer who dies or is killed off duty while acting in an official capacity to prevent loss of property, injury or death, or is targeted because of his/her duties as a law enforcement officer.

Members of Iowa law enforcement agencies who qualify for and are listed on the National Peace Officer Memorial qualify for nomination to the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial if they are not included on the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial. The employing agency will be required to complete the Application for Inclusion and submit it to the Iowa Department of Public Safety including all supporting documentation. If your agency has a copy of the National Application submitted along with supporting documentation that may be submitted in lieu of the Iowa Application.All submissions will be reviewed by the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Committee which is comprised of representatives from the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association, Iowa State Police Association, Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety to ensure all criteria for inclusion are met.

DISQUALIFYING CIRCUMSTANCES:

Any Iowa peace officer whose death meets one of the following conditions shall be ineligible:

  • Deaths attributed to voluntary alcohol or controlled substance abuse or while the victim officer is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
  • Deaths caused by the intentional misconduct of the officer.
  • Deaths caused by the officer’s intention to bring about his/her own death.
  • Deaths attributed to an officer performing his/her duty in a grossly negligent manner at time of death.
  • Off-duty automobile accidents where the officer is not involved in any type of duty related activity.
  • Off-duty law enforcement officers serving as overseas peace keepers, government contractors, or active-duty military.
  • Private law enforcement, security, or corrections officers working for profit law enforcement companies (even if holding a state law enforcement commission).

DEFINITIONS:

Line of Duty Death : Any Iowa peace officer who has died as a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty. This includes law enforcement officers who, while in an off-duty capacity, act in direct response to an emergency situation involving the general public or a violation of the law as long as any action taken is in compliance with state law and the victim officers’ departmental policy.

Peace Officers: as sometimes designated “law enforcement officers”, include: 

  • Sheriff’s and their regular deputies who are subject to mandated law enforcement training
  • Marshals and police officers of cities
  • Peace officer members of the Iowa Department of Public Safety as defined in Chapter 80
  • Parole officers acting pursuant to section 906.2.
  • Probation officers acting pursuant to section 602.7202, subsection 4 and section 907.2
  • Special security officers employed by board of regents institutions as set forth in section 262.13 
  • Conservation officers as authorized by section 456A.13
  • Such employees of the Iowa Department of Transportation as are designated “peace officers” by resolution of the department under section 321.477
  • Employees of an aviation authority designated as “peace officers” by the authority under section 330A.8 subsection 16
  • Such persons as may be otherwise designated by law.