Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Frank Delmege was shot and killed while responding to a man with a gun call his neighborhood. He was on duty, at home, when his department called him to the scene with another officer. As the officers approached the suspect's house he emerged from inside and walked to edge of the lawn, which was elevated seven feet above the sidewalk. He then shot Detective Delmege point-blank. The other officer returned fire, striking the suspect in the chest three times and wounding him. The suspect was eventually sentenced to life in prison where he later died.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-7B684D6A- 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.
Detective Delmege gave the Des Moines Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Delmege.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Frank Delmege 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Delmege's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Delmege Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Delmege is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Delmege was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
