Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Carlos Bernabe Puente-Morales

Des Moines Police Department — Des Moines, IA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 26, 2016

Age 34

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 5 mo

Badge 5172

The Vigil Panel 165 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 26

Incident

Police Officer Carlos Puente-Morales and Police Officer Susan Farrell were killed when their patrol car was struck head-on by a wrong way, drunk driver on I-80, at mile marker 117.

They were transporting a prisoner from Council Bluffs back to Des Moines when the crash occurred. Both officers, the prisoner, and the driver of the wrong way vehicle were killed.

Officer Puente-Morales had served with the Des Moines Police Department for five months and had previously served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and the Ottumwa Police Department. He was a member of the Army National Guard.

9 years ago you and Officer Ferrell were taken from the citizens here in Des Moines.

You both are still missed by many. Thank you both for your service and sacrifice.

Tonya LaFarr, Des Moines Iowa Private Citizen, Law Enforcement Supporter March 27th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-70E7ACC9
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Puente-Morales gave the Des Moines Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Des Moines Police Department

Location Des Moines, IA

Platform Identity dmpd.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 26, 2016

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 5 mo

Age 34

Badge Number 5172

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Killed in crash

Military Service

Carlos Bernabe Puente-Morales served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Carlos Bernabe Puente-Morales 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 Des Moines Police Department, 16 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this agency's fallen.

Des Moines Police Department

of 27 officers

59.3% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious