Incident
Captain Thomas Andreano was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a drowning call. As the patrol car he was riding in entered the intersection of Army Post Road and Indianola Road, a car ran a stop sign and struck him. The driver of the patrol car was injured in the collision, and the two occupants of the other car died as well. None of the four were wearing seat belts. Captain Andreano was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Des Moines Police Department for 22 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. His brother also served with the Des Moines Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-8FA40BF0- 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.
Captain Andreano gave the Des Moines Police Department 22 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles Thomas Andreano served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Captain Charles Thomas Andreano 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 Des Moines Police Department, 7 of 27 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Thomas Andreano's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Thomas Andreano Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Thomas Andreano is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















