Eric John Stein
Agency patch
Sergeant

Eric John Stein

Keokuk County Sheriff's Office — Sigourney, IA
Felonious
End of Watch April 4, 2011
Age 39
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 160 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Eric Stein was shot and killed as he, the county sheriff, and another deputy attempted to question a man regarding an incident that had occurred the previous night.

The three officers had gone to the man's home on 249th Street, in rural Sigourney, shortly before noon when they were fired upon. Sergeant Stein was struck by the shots and fatally wounded. The sheriff and other deputy took cover and called for assistance.

The subject remained barricaded in his home for about three hours before coming outside with a firearm. He was killed by an Iowa State Patrol tactical unit.

Sergeant Stein had served with the Keokuk County Sheriff's Office for 11 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his 9-year-old daughter, sister, father, and fiancee.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-C86C2F46
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.
Sergeant Stein gave the Keokuk County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sigourney community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Stein.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Sigourney, Keokuk County, IA
Platform Identity kcso.keokuk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 2011
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Sergeant Eric John Stein 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%.

Keokuk County Sheriff's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IA — Statewide
129
of 226 officers
57.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eric John Stein's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Eric John Stein Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eric John Stein 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. Eric John Stein was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Keokuk County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.