Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

Earl H. Berendes

Bellevue Police Department — Bellevue, IA

Felonious

End of Watch April 16, 1969

Age 60

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge 49-21

The Vigil Panel 105 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Berendes was beaten to death with a shovel while investigating a burglary at a local garage. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years, but was paroled less then three years later. Chief Berendes had served with the agency for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-D0A4D2AA
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Berendes gave the Bellevue Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bellevue community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Berendes.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Bellevue Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Bellevue, IA

Platform Identity bpd.jackson.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1969

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 60

Badge Number 49-21

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

Chief of Police Earl H. Berendes is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 57.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Bellevue Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl H. Berendes's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How Earl H. Berendes Compares

Age at Death

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl H. Berendes is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl H. Berendes was killed by blunt object.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Bellevue Police Department are honored on badge.nw.