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Patrol Officer

Gerald W. Mork

Iola Police Department — Iola, WI

Felonious

End of Watch July 14, 1985

Age 31

Tour of Duty 8 mo

Badge 90

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Gerald Mork was found shot to death at Riverside Cemetary while working the midnight shift. He had not radioed in his location, and it is unknown why he was there and out of his patrol car. He had been shot twice in the back of his head. The chief of the Iola Police Department was later arrested and charged with Officer Mork's murder but was acquitted. Officer Mork had served with the Iona Police Department for 8 months and also served as the village's fire chief. He was survived by his wife, 6-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, parents, two brothers, and two sisters. His father was the Waupaca County Sheriff at the time of his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, 6-year-old daughter, 2-year-old son, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-FB891BEF
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrol Officer Mork served with the Iola Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Iola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Mork.

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

Agency

Department Iola Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Iola, WI

Platform Identity ipd.waupaca.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 14, 1985

Tour of Duty 8 mo

Age 31

Badge Number 90

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrol Officer Gerald W. Mork is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 3.7 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

Iola Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald W. Mork's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,094 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Gerald W. Mork Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.7

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald W. Mork is highlighted in Jul.

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. Gerald W. Mork was killed by handgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909