Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Dennis Hill was shot and killed after he and his partner responded to a shots fired call at Thirteenth Street and Mondamin Avenue at 4 am. As they approached the scene in the patty wagon, they pulled up next to the victim. The suspect was hiding in nearby bushes and immediately opened fire three times with a shotgun, striking Officer Hill in the head. Other officers responded to the "Officer Down" call, and another shootout ended with one other officer being wounded and the suspect being killed. Officer Hill was a United States Army Vietnam and Iowa National Guard veteran and had served with the Des Moines Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife, two young children, and his parents. His father also served with the Des Moines Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two young children, and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-DDCC78EC- 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.
Police Officer Hill gave the Des Moines Police Department 5 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
Dennis Earl Hill served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Dennis Earl Hill 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 Des Moines Police Department, 16 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis Earl Hill's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis Earl Hill Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Earl Hill is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis Earl Hill was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
