This week we recognize National Police Week, which will culminate Friday with the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Held May 15th each year, the observance is one that Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard says he and many others hold dear in their hearts. “I’m of that mindset you never forget, and I think that it’s important we get together once a year and remind people. I’m a Marine Corps veteran and that was instilled in me back when I was in the service, but (I) think it’s important that we remember those that have sacrificed for us. And (it’s the) same thing we have going on today, with all of our first responders, doctors, and nurses, and everybody that’s having to deal with all this, you know? I think it’s important that we remember anyone who loses their life to save another life, so (the observance) is important to me anyway.”

There have been 204 Iowa peace officers killed in the line of duty since 1868. That includes two Dallas County officers who lost their lives, with Minburn Town Marshal Virgil Untied in 1931 — who was shot five times by three men during a grocery store robbery — and West Des Moines Police Officer Shawn Miller in 2016 — who was hit by a car while on his motorcycle. Leonard adds, 2016 is a year all local officers remember, due to the deaths of Des Moines Police Officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales — who were killed by a drunk driver on Interstate 80 in Dallas County while on a transport — as well as Urbandale Police Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Police Officer Anthony Beminio — who were killed in ambush attacks, with the suspect apprehended in Dallas County.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no official public observance of the holiday this year, though the Iowa Department of Public Safety is posting daily tributes to their social media. To learn more about Peace Officer Memorial Day and National Police Week, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Leonard.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2020/05/12/lets-talk-dallas-county-5-12-2020-chad-leonard/