Northwest Iowa — A contingent of law enforcement officers from the KIWA listening area traveled to Des Moines Monday, and will be traveling to Rockwell City today (Tuesday) to honor the two Des Moines metro area police officers who were assassinated in ambush assaults last week.
Some 15-hundred officers from around Iowa and the United States attended the funeral Monday for Des Moines Police Sergeant Anthony Beminio, who was shot to death while responding to the call of the shooting of Urbandale Officer Justin Martin. The 24-year old Martin’s funeral takes place today in his hometown of Rockwell City.
Several law enforcement agencies from our area will be represented by officers who are attending today’s funeral for Martin. Chief Lyle Bolkema will represent the Sheldon Police Department, Deputies Lee Vellema, and Caleb Edwards will represent the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office will have a contingent of four officers, led by Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep, attending Martin’s services. Sioux County Sheriff Dan Altena led a contingent of three officers from his agency to Monday’s funeral in Des Moines, and four to Tuesday’s funeral in Rockwell City. Perhaps most poignantly, the Orange City Police Department will be represented by one of their officers who actually knew Officer Martin. Officer Audley De Jong of the Orange City PD was a classmate of Martin’s at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, according to Orange City Police Chief Jim Pottebaum.
Officer Martin’s funeral service will begin at 11:40, which was his badge number. The service is being held at the South Calhoun Middle School in his hometown of Rockwell City.
