Des Moines, Iowa — This Friday, May 6th is the date for the annual Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony.
The ceremony will be held at 10 AM at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial located on the lawn east of the Oran Pape State Office Building.
Three officers will be remembered and honored during the ceremony: Police Officer Susan Louise Farrell of the Des Moines Police Department who, along with Police Officer Carlos Bernabe Puente-Morales, also of the Des Moines Police Department, died in the line of duty on March 26, 2016. Also being honored are Sergeant Howard James Snider of the Ames Police Department, who died in the line of duty on June 17, 2012; and Field Agent Albert Paul of the Iowa Parole Board who died in the line of duty on February 5, 1938.
Northwest Iowa has some officers that have died in the line of duty, too. Alton Town Marshal Joseph Kaschmitter died on Monday, March 27, 1911 after an encounter with two men who had guns. They were never found. O’Brien County Sheriff Jake Mulder died in the line of duty on Wednesday, January 25, 1956 after he suffered a fatal heart attack while he and his deputy struggled with an emotionally-disturbed person. And O’Brien County Sheriff Robert Bornholdt was killed in an automobile accident in Wright County on Sunday, October 30, 1966, while he was transporting prisoners to a state facility in southeast Iowa.
Governor Terry Branstad has ordered all flags on the Capitol Complex to be flown at half-staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016, in observance of the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony.
Flags at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial, located at the Oran Pape State Office Building, will be flown at half-staff the week of May 16-20, 2016, in honor of National Peace Officer Week.
The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays on the Capitol Complex. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.
