Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors

Trooper Allen Nieland was killed when his Cessna 172 patrol plane crashed as he was assisting other troopers in locating a robbery suspect off of Route 151, south of I-80, five miles east of Williamsburg.

He located the suspect and was flying above him when the aircraft suddenly nose-dived into the ground. The suspect was apprehended and charged with vehicular homicide in connection with Trooper Nieland's death.

Trooper Nieland had served with the Iowa State Patrol for eight years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

Patrol Officer Todd Stone was killed when his patrol car struck a utility pole during a pursuit.

Another officer initiated the pursuit after seeing a car doing donuts in a residential intersection. As he was pursuing it another vehicle pulled between him and the offender's vehicle in the 1600 block of Camanche Avenue. His patrol left the roadway and a utility pole after he swerved to avoid that vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle he was pursuing was convicted of vehicular homicide in connection with Officer Stone's death and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Officer Stone had served with the Clinton Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife, 3-year-old daughter, and 1-month-son.

Corporal Jon Hermann and Captain Philip Heimbecker were killed when their Beechcraft Baron crashed shortly after takeoff from the Fort Madison Municipal Airport.

They were transporting a prisoner to face a murder trial at the time of the crash. The prisoner survived the crash with non-fatal injuries.

Corporal Hermann had served with the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office for six years.

Captain Phillip Heimbecker and Corporal Jon E. Hermann were killed when their Beechcraft Baron crashed shortly after takeoff from the Fort Madison Municipal Airport.

They were transporting a prisoner to face a murder trial at the time of the crash. The prisoner survived the crash with non-fatal injuries.

Captain Heimbecker had served with the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office for 28 years.

Deputy Sheriff Kipton Hayward was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver while diverting traffic from I-80/I-35 onto Route 69 as a result of an earlier accident.

He was standing outside of his patrol car when the driver struck him. The man continued driving for over a mile until he was stopped by an Iowa State trooper near the original accident scene. The 31-year-old driver was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released after serving only four years.

Deputy Hayward was a member of the previously known Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) and the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program. He had just recently returned to duty after having been struck by another drunk driver that had left him with a broken leg.

Deputy Hayward is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Deputy Sheriff Gilbert Androy was killed after falling down a flight of stairs at a domestic assault call.

Upon his arrival, the door to the residence was locked and was kicked in by responding units. During the operation, Deputy Androy fell down a flight of stairs and struck his head. He was flown to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained on life support for two days before succumbing to his injuries.

Deputy Androy had served with the Fremont County Sheriff's Department for only 6 days at the time of his death. He had previously served with the Mills County Sheriff's Office for 11 years and had served in the capacity of chief deputy.

Deputy Androy is survived by his wife, two stepsons, three daughters, parents, brother, and sister. His third daughter was born on December 24, 1997, two months after his death.

Deputy Sheriff Ed Halligan suffered a heart attack and died as he struggled with a 13-year-old suspect at 2200 Block of Lucas Street.

The struggle started when Deputy Halligan and another deputy attempted to serve a psychiatric committal order on the subject. No charges were filed against the juvenile.

Deputy Halligan was transported to Muscatine General Hospital where he could not be revived.

Deputy Halligan served with the Muscatine County Sheriff's Department for eight years as a full-time deputy and 20 years as a reserve deputy and had previously served as the chief of police for the city of Fruitland. He is survived by his wife and six children.