This week marks the 40th anniversary of the line of duty death of Pella Police Officer John E. Van Haaften, and current officers and staff are marking the occasion by wearing special memorial bands.

Each year, a memorial is posted in front of the Pella Police Department to remember the sacrifice of John Ernest Van Haaften. He served for just over two years at the department when he was killed during an undercover drug bust in Knoxville on April 9th, 1980.

Sharyl Hanthorn was married to Van Haaften, and has established the John E. Van Haaften memorial scholarship, which is given to a Pella and Pella Christian senior during the annual senior awards nights.