Police from across the region gathered at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium Friday afternoon in order to pay tribute to peace officers across the country who have fallen in the line of duty. The event, organized by Des Moines County Sheriff Mike Johnstone and Burlington Police Chief Doug Beaird (Beard), contained performances by the Burlington High School Bass Choir, the Notre Dame Trio, and Ed Hart, Kent Strabala, and Alan Mehaffy.
Burlington Police Officer Jim Ruberg spoke at the event.
“Today, in the United States, there are over 900,000 law enforcement officers that put their lives on the line every day for the safety and the protection of others and they serve with honor, distinction, great courage, and success,” Ruberg said.
Burlington has had two officers die in the line of duty: Captain Joseph Feely died in 1926 while responding to a domestic dispute, and Captain Frederick Sauer died in 1934 while interrupting a burglary in progress. Officers from Keokuk, Henderson County, and Rockwell City who died in the line of duty were also honored.