Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Vinton Margretz was killed in a motorcycle crash on Reber Avenue, near Marsh Street, while responding to a call. He was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. He was transported to Presbyterian Hospital, where he died approximately one hour later. Patrolman Margretz was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War I. He had served with the Waterloo Police Department for a total of about 2 years on two separate occasions.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-8F055512- 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.
Patrolman Margretz gave the Waterloo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterloo 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
Vinton Jerry Margretz served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Vinton Jerry Margretz is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IA, 71 of 226 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.4 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Waterloo Police Department, 2 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vinton Jerry Margretz's cause is highlighted.
How Vinton Jerry Margretz Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Vinton Jerry Margretz is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Waterloo Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
