Fallen Trooper Ted Benda one of two Iowa State Patrol officers to be honored at Iowa Peace Officer Memorial in Des Moines Friday

Friday, May 6, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens and the state of Iowa will honor two Iowa State Patrol Troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice this past year. Trooper Ted Benda - a Waukon native - and Sergeant Jim K. Smith each dedicated their lives to serving Iowans to protect and keep their communities safe, and each lost their life in the line of duty in 2021.

The public is invited to a Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines this Friday to honor these fallen peace officers, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the last 153 years. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Grounds, located east of the Oran Pape State Office Building at 215 East 7th Street in Des Moines.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the State Capitol rotunda. The ceremony will also be live streamed on the Iowa State Patrol Facebook page.

The evening of October 14, 2021, Trooper Ted Benda (Badge #313) was in route to assist a local law enforcement agency with the apprehension of a wanted subject in Clayton County. Trooper Benda was traveling down Highway 51 in rural Allamakee County, just north of Postville. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Trooper Benda encountered a deer on the roadway.

Evasive action was taken where he lost control of his vehicle, rolling it several times. Trooper Benda was airlifted to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI, where he died from his injuries six days later. Trooper Benda served the Department of Public Safety for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, Holly, and their four daughters.

Also being honored at Friday’s ceremony is Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim K. Smith (Badge #426), who 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. Sgt. Smith had served with the Iowa State Patrol for 27 years and is survived by his wife and two children.

For more information, visit the Peace Officer Memorial page on the Iowa Department of Public Safety website: https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/commissioners-office/iowa-peace-officer-m....

The honoring is being held in conjunction with the observance of National Police Week, May 15-21 this year. Iowa residents are urged to take time and thank current peace officers for protecting and serving their local communities and the state of Iowa.