(Des Moines, IA) -- This year's Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Monies honored two fallen officers, Fremont County Sheriff's Deputy Austin "Melvin" Richardson and Coralville Police Sergeant John Karl Williams.
Fremont County Deputy Richardson had just completed a call for service on June 14, 2022 and was traveling near Hamburg when he crested a hill and encountered a combine operated partially in his lane. Richardson's patrol car collided with the combine, causing him to lose control. Richardson, a police officer and deputy for 14 years, died at the scene. Richardson was also a member of two fire and rescue teams. He is survived by his wife Jennifer, along with their three daughters.
Coralville Police Sergeant John Karl Williams responded with his peers to a report of a three-year-old boy who had been shot in the head. During the investigation, Sergeant Williams advised his fellow officers that he was not feeling well and returned to the police department. Once there, he began to experience severe chest pain, and went into cardiac arrest. Despite all the lifesaving measures performed by the responding paramedics, Sergeant Williams passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. Sergeant Williams was a 28-year veteran of the Coralville Police Department. He is survived by his wife Kim, along with their two sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren.
Officer stands guard outside the Iowa Peace Officer's Memorial near the Iowa State Capitol.