In the line of duty

I got a call this morning from a reader Mary Ryan, who wanted to point out after reading today's column that while Deputy Eric Stein's death this week was the first time an Iowa peace officer had been intentionally killed in the past 25 years, Stein wasn't the only officer who has died while on duty during that time.

In fact, there have been 14 line-of-duty deaths in Iowa in the past quarter century -- officers struck by vehicles on roadways, in car and airplane accidents, who died as the result of falls or heart attacks suffered while struggling with suspects.

"I know," Mary told me in her voicemail message. "I've been to the funerals."

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has a

Web page memorializing the 156 law enforcement officers who have died while on duty since 1869. And thanks for the reminder, Mary, that law enforcement is dangerous work under the best of circumstances.