Roll of Honor
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
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Earl H. Berendes is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl H. Berendes's cause is highlighted.
How Earl H. Berendes Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled after 3 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl H. Berendes is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl H. Berendes was killed by blunt object; shovel.