Today is National Peace Officer Memorial Day, and the family of a Pella officer killed on duty 41 years ago continues to remember his legacy. John E. Van Haaften was shot and killed in April of 1980 while conducting an undercover drug bust in Knoxville. Sharyl Hanthorn was married to John when he was killed, and she honors him annually with a scholarship given to graduating Pella and Pella Christian high school seniors.

Marion County Deputy Harold Gates, who also served with the Pella Police Department, died while on duty when he was shot and killed in Pella on October 25, 1967. Prairie City Officer Donald Hewitt was killed in an automobile accident during a high-speed pursuit at 11:45 pm on December 3rd, 1977. He was attempting to position his vehicle in front of the suspect’s car in order to slow it down. While maneuvering his vehicle was struck broadside and he and a passenger were killed instantly.