On average, 164 peace officers die every year in the line of duty, and almost 16,000 are injured. 

Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller tells KNIA/KRLS News, “This is very important for everyone in law enforcement as well as their families. We do feel it’s important to appreciate all the sacrifices that law enforcement make across the country and even around the world. It’s not just a dangerous job, it’s also a job that makes you take time away from your family. You miss holidays, you miss birthdays and significant events. But it’s all for the greater good, it’s all to serve and protect others which we signed up to do. We just hope everybody on this day takes a little bit of time out of their day to thank a police officer or at least ponder what police officers around the country or Knoxville go through on a daily or annual basis.” 

Today is Peace Officer Memorial Day and Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt tells KNIA/KRLS News, “It’s very important to honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties and also those families left behind.” 

Over 150 Iowa law enforcement officers have fallen in the line of duty in the history of the state. In 2008, Virgil Behrens with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was killed in a vehicle accident on the way to training in Des Moines.

Also killed in the line of duty was Marion Albert (Bert) Conrey, a Knoxville officer in 1938.