Honoring The Fallen During National Police Week

Northwest Iowa — On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 54 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1786, more than 22,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. That total includes four KIWA listening area officers, two from O’Brien County, and one each from Lyon and Sioux Counties, who have died in the line of duty over the years. During this week, National Police Week, KIWA wants to honor these brave officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The most recent northwest Iowa officer to lose their life in the line of duty is Lyon County Deputy Sheriff Stephanie Schreurs, who was fatally injured when her patrol vehicle left the roadway on a sharp curve, entered a ditch, and rolled over. She was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, where she remained until succumbing to her injuries on August 13th of last year. Schreurs was a 24-year veteran of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. She was 60-years-old.

O’Brien County Sheriff Robert Bornholdt was killed in the line of duty on November 30th, 1966, when he was involved in an automobile accident in Wright County, while he was transporting prisoners to a state facility in southeast Iowa. Sheriff Bornholdt had served with the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years before being appointed sheriff in July 1966. He was elected to the position in November 1966, less than one month before he was killed. Bornholdt was 43-years-old at the time of his death.

Another O’Brien County Sheriff is on the list of peace officers who died in the line of duty. On Wednesday, January 25th, 1956, O’Brien County Sheriff Jake Mulder suffered a fatal heart attack while he and his deputy struggled with an emotionally-disturbed person. He and the deputy had gone to serve mental commitment papers on the man. Sheriff Mulder had served with the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Department for five years and had previously served with the Sheldon Police Department for 30 years. Mulder was 51-years-old.

The earliest peace officer line-of-duty death recorded in the broadcast area occurred on Monday, March 27, 1911, in Alton. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, on that date, Town Marshal Joseph Kaschmitter was shot and mortally wounded as he was walking near the Alton depot at approximately 2:00 am. Marshal Kaschmitter encountered two men who covered him with their revolvers and ordered him to throw up his hands. He obeyed and at the same time said, “I am the town marshal.” At this both men opened fire, the bullets entering his chest and stomach. As the suspects fled, Marshal Kaschmitter drew his revolver and fired several times. Citizens attracted to the scene carried Marshal Kaschmitter to the home of a local doctor where he died two days later. A posse failed to locate the suspects. Kaschmitter was 53.

During this National Police Week, and all year long, we want to honor these heroes who died while keeping us safe, and say “Thank You” to all of the members of the “Thin Blue Line” who keep us safe today.

Photos of the area heroes who died in the line of duty are below……………..