Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Van Haaften was shot and killed while assigned to the Knoxville, Iowa, Police Department as an undercover narcotics officer. He had just made an undercover purchase at a residence and entered the home to arrest the subject at 4:00 p.m. As he moved into one of the rooms, another subject shot him in the chest with a .410 gauge shotgun. He was able to exit the home and call for backup before collapsing. The suspect, age 17, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison. The suspect who purchased the drugs pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison. Patrolman Van Haaften had served with the Pella Police Department for two years and previously served two years as a volunteer in the police reserve.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-4797E93F- 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.
Patrolman Van Haaften gave the Pella Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pella community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Van Haaften.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Ernest Van Haaften 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Ernest Van Haaften's cause is highlighted.
How John Ernest Van Haaften Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Ernest Van Haaften is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Ernest Van Haaften was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Pella Police Department are honored on badge.nw.