Iowa Peace Officer Memorial
The Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony
The Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony is held annually on the first Friday in May. Governor Reynolds is scheduled to attend.
The 2020 ceremony has been postponed.
The ceremony honoring Iowa peace officers who have died in the line of duty is held each year at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Monument. Over the summer of 2012, the Monument was moved to its new location next to the Oran Pape State Office Building on the State Capitol Complex. In case of inclement weather the ceremony is held in the rotunda of the State Capitol Building.
Officer Richard Webb of the Ames Police Department won a statewide competition with the design for this monument. The Memorial is fronted by an engraved stone with an explanation of the artist's conception of the elements of the Memorial. In addition to the names of the 1985 Memorial Committee, the following language appears on the stone:
The three outer forms represent the three levels of law enforcement in Iowa.
The equal spacing represents the equal sharing of responsibility.
The circles represent the cooperation and fraternity between agencies and departments.
The three gray paths to the center represent the agencies and departments uniting to serve, sacrifice, and mourn.
The center pinnacle represents the service, dedication, and sacrifice shared by each peace officer.
The top of each outer form represents the aim of each peace officer with the goal being just short of the ultimate act of giving one's life, which is represented by the top of the center pinnacle.
- Designed by C. Richard Webb
National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial
Fundraising efforts are underway to purchase and install lighting, tablets and engraving, benches,signs and landscaping. The officer names will go on the curved wall at back of the monument.
