Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Watchman Robert Heller was shot and killed by a man he intended to arrest for wife beating. The suspect opened fire with a shotgun from inside his home as Watchman Heller walked up to his front door. The suspect then shot and killed himself.
Watchman Heller was a Civil War veteran, having served with the 9th Iowa Calvary.
No passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice and you will always be remembered.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo (Retired) Delaware State Police June 20th, 2020
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BO-US-IA-71B319EC- Stewardship
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- 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.
Night Watchman Heller served with the Avoca Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Avoca 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert D. Heller served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Night Watchman Robert D. Heller 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert D. Heller's cause is highlighted.
How Robert D. Heller Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert D. Heller is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert D. Heller was killed by shotgun.