Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Joseph Kruse was stabbed to death by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. Captain Kruse was stabbed in the heart during a scuffle with the inmate in which three other officers were also injured. The inmate, who had been in prison since 1967, was serving a 16-year sentence for kidnapping a 9-year-old girl and committing lascivious acts with her. He was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Captain Kruse on May 29th, 1973, and had 90 years added to his sentence. Captain Kruse had served with the Iowa Department of Corrections since January 1955 and was promoted to captain in 1968.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-22D58A21- 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.
Captain Kruse gave the Iowa Department of Corrections 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Kruse.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Joseph Kruse 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%.
At Iowa Department of Corrections, 6 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Kruse's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Kruse Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 90 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Kruse is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Kruse was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Iowa Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
