Incident
Patrolman Gerald Pickett was killed in a motorcycle accident while on routine patrol. As he approahced an intersection, a sand truck turned directly in front of him. Patrolman Pickett struck the truck and sustained severe head and internal injuries. He succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.
Patrolman Pickett had served with the Des Moines Police Department for two years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-BEED13D3- 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.
Patrolman Pickett gave the Des Moines Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pickett.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Gerald D. Pickett 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. Gerald D. Pickett's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald D. Pickett Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald D. Pickett is highlighted in Sep.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















