Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors

Correctional Officer R.J. Vidimos died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women at 420 Mill Street SW in Mitchellville.

Officer Vidimos had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for one year. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and grandson.

Correctional Officer Mike Teachout died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty while assigned to the Clarinda Correctional Facility.

Officer Teachout is survived by his wife, three children, three grandchildren, mother, and siblings.

Conservation Officer Steve Reighard died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.

Officer Reighard had served with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for 16 years and was assigned to Dickinson County. He is survived by his wife and son.

Nurse Lorena Schulte and Correctional Officer Robert McFarland were assaulted and beaten to death by two inmates in the Anamosa State Penitentiary infirmary during an escape attempt.

The inmates had developed a ruse to gain access to the infirmary by claiming to be there as part of the prison repair program. Once inside, they attacked Nurse Schulte and Officer McFarland with hammers, inflicting fatal skull fractures on both. Another inmate inside the infirmary attempted to protect Nurse Schulte and Officer McFarland but was also attacked and suffered a skull fracture.

The two inmates then attempted to use a grinder to break through the exterior window and protective bars but were unsuccessful. They briefly took another nurse hostage before fleeing back into the prison, where they were subdued. The two inmates had been serving lengthy sentences for robbery convictions. Both were subsequently charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and abduction. Both inmates were sentenced to life in prison for the two murders.

Nurse Schulte was in a position that gave her primary responsibility for the custody and security of convicted criminal offenders.

Nurse Schulte had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for 14 years. She is survived by her parents, two sisters, a brother.

Correctional Officer Robert McFarland and Nurse Lorena Schulte were assaulted and beaten to death by two inmates in the Anamosa State Penitentiary infirmary during an escape attempt.

The inmates had developed a ruse to gain access to the infirmary by claiming to be there as part of the prison repair program. Once inside, they attacked Officer McFarland and Nurse Schulte with hammers, inflicting fatal skull fractures on both. Another inmate inside the infirmary attempted to protect Officer McFarland and Nurse Schulte but was also attacked and suffered a skull fracture.

The two inmates then attempted to use a grinder to break through the exterior window and protective bars but were unsuccessful. They briefly took another nurse hostage before fleeing back into the prison, where they were subdued. The two inmates had been serving lengthy sentences for robbery convictions. Both were subsequently charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and abduction. Both inmates were sentenced to life in prison for the two murders.

Officer McFarland had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for 13 years and also served with the Ely Volunteer Fire Department. He is survived by his wife, three sons, mother, two sisters, and brother.

Nurse Schulte had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for 14 years.

Sergeant Jim Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a subject who had assaulted and disarmed another law enforcement officer during a traffic stop near Grundy Center.

The subject initially fled as officers attempted to stop him but stopped and confronted them and antagonized them to shoot him. The man then assaulted one of the officers and disarmed him after placing the officer in a chokehold. He was able to get back into his car and fled to his home at 305 G Avenue.

Responding officers established a perimeter around the home and established an arrest team. When the arrest team entered the home, the man opened fire with a shotgun, striking Sergeant Smith. Other members of the team were able to remove Sergeant Smith from the home. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The subject shot at an Iowa State Patrol tactical team at about 11:50 pm. The man was wounded by return fire, taken into custody, and charged with murder. In May 2022, he was found guilty of first-degree murder, assault, and attempted murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Sergeant Smith had served with the Iowa State Patrol for 27 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, mother, brother, and sister.

Parole Officer Broderick Daye died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Parole Officer Daye had served with the Iowa 5th Judicial District - Department of Correctional Services for 17 years. He is survived by his aunt, three siblings, and seven nieces and nephews.

Trooper Ted Benda succumbed to injuries sustained six days earlier when he was involved in a single-vehicle crash.

He was responding to assist deputies from the Clayton County Sheriff's Office with a wanted subject at about 11:30 pm when his patrol car left the roadway on Iowa Highway 51 six miles north of Postville. He was flown to Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.

Trooper Benda had served with the Iowa State Patrol for five years and had previously served with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for 11 years. He is survived by his wife, four children, parents, and siblings.

Correctional Officer Rich Newkirk died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at 2700 Coral Ridge Avenue in Coralville.

Correctional Officer Newkirk was an Iowa National Guard veteran and had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and son.

Chief of Police Michael E. German died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Chief German had been the police chief of the Prairie City Police Department for 1-1/2 years and had served with the department for almost eight years. He had over 28 years of law enforcement service and had previously served with the St. Charles Police Department, Eddyville Police Department, Meskwaki Nation Police Department, Tama Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Mitchellville Police Department, Baxter Police Department, and the Iowa State Fair Police Department. He is survived by his wife and children.

Deputy Sheriff John Grampovnik died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Deputy Grampovnik had served with the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department for almost 25 years and previously served with the Waukon Police Department. He is survived by his wife, daughter, father, three sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Deputy Sheriff Melvin Richardson succumbed to injuries sustained in a collision with a harvesting combine on Highway 275 near 260th Street.

At 12:35 pm, the combine was traveling southbound on Highway 275. Deputy Richardson was driving northbound when his vehicle collided with the combine. The combine was wider than the lane, and Deputy Richardson's left front tire collided with the machine.

Deputy Richardson had served with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office for seven years and had previously served as the Chief of Police with the Sidney Police Department for four years, the Auburn Police Department for three years, and a reserve deputy with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Sergeant John Williams passed away after suffering a medical emergency following his response to a shooting call.

The shooting occurred in an apartment complex and involved a 3-year-old victim. Sergeant Williams was on scene of the incident when he began to experience symptoms of an acute medical emergency. He was transported to a local hospital where he passed away a short time later.

Sergeant Williams had served with the Coralville Police Department for 28 years. He is survived by his wife, four children, and six grandchildren.

Police Officer Kevin Cram was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man with an active arrest warrant for harassment.

At 7:53 p.m., Officer Cram located the subject at the 1100 block of South Minnesota Street in Algona. When Officer Cram notified the man that he was being placed under arrest, the subject shot him and fled.

Officer Cram was transported to Kossuth Regional Health Center where he was pronounced dead.

The subject was arrested in Minnesota and charged with first-degree murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Officer Cram had served with the Algona Police Department for eight years and previously served with the Nora Spring Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, a stepson, father, mother, and two brothers.

Senior Police Officer Phoukham Tran succumbed to injuries he received when he was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of East 30th Street and East Grand Avenue in Des Moines on August 19, 2011.

Officer Tran was directing traffic at the Iowa State Fair when the driver of a pickup hit him and threw him 47 feet into the air. He was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he was treated for traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, and ruptured spleen.

The driver was convicted of serious injury by vehicle, operating while intoxicated-2nd offense, and possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to seven years.

Officer Tran remained wheelchair-bound, suffering from seizures and speech, memory, vision, and coordination issues. On November 2, 2023, he passed away from his injuries.

Officer Tran had served with the Des Moines Police Department as a police officer for over 12 years and was a cadet with the agency for 18 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.