Des Moines Police Department, Iowa
End of Watch: Monday, September 20, 1909
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 14
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 20, 1909
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Detective Frank Delmege was shot and killed while responding to a man with a gun call his neighborhood.
He was on duty, at home, when his department called him to the scene with another officer. As the officers approached the suspect's house he emerged from inside and walked to edge of the lawn, which was elevated seven feet above the sidewalk. He then shot Detective Delmege point-blank. The other officer returned fire, striking the suspect in the chest three times and wounding him.
The suspect was eventually sentenced to life in prison where he later died.