Bernard Herman Geerts

Davenport Police Department — Davenport, IA

Felonious

End of Watch July 16, 1928

Age 40

Badge 31

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Officer Geerts succumbed to gunshot wounds received three days earlier when he attempted to arrest two 16-year-olds he caught burglarizing the Naven Fuel Company. Both boys were arrested in Rock Island four days later. Both suspects had escaped from the Home for Feeble Minded Children at Gleenwood. They were both convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in the Fort Madison Penitentiary. One was paroled in 1961 and the other in 1963.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-7D98B107
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Bernard. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Geerts served with the Davenport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Davenport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Geerts.

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

Agency

Department Davenport Police Department

Location Davenport, IA

Platform Identity dpd.scott.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1928

Age 40

Badge Number 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Bernard Herman Geerts 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 Davenport Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Davenport Police Department

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious