Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Charles Gates was shot and killed while assisting the Pella Police Department in responding to a domestic disturbance call of a man making threats in a neighborhood. As officers arrived and approached the house the man opened fire with a rifle, striking Deputy Gates' vehicle three times and then striking Deputy Gates in the hip. The suspect attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head as he was shot and killed by return fire from other officers. Deputy Gates was transported to Pella Hospital and then Methodist Hospital in Des Moines where he succumbed to his wounds the next day. Deputy Gates had served with the agency for eight years and had previously served with the Pella Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-9BFAB077- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Gates gave the Marion County Sheriff's Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gates.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Charles Harold Gates 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. Charles Harold Gates's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Harold Gates Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Harold Gates is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Harold Gates was killed by rifle.