Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Johannes Koch was shot and killed as he and other officers attempted to arrest a bootlegger who had jumped bail. He and his partner approached the subject and his wife as they returned to their car on Camanche Avenue, between 6th Street and 7th Street. The man pulled out a .45 caliber revolver and fired as Patrolman Koch attempted to grab it. Both officers returned fire, wounding the subject and his wife. They were both taken into custody. The man was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison on November 9th, 1926. On April 8, 1928, he was found guilty in a federal court of violating the Dyer Act, ( the transportation of a stolen automobile from one state to another). In his case he was sentenced to serve three years in a federal prison for driving a stolen car from Chicago to Waterloo. He was to be transferred to a federal prison at the conclusion of his first sentence. He was released in August of 1931 and transferred to Leavenworth. Patrolman Koch had served with the Clinton Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 2-year-old son, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-E4438E77- 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 Koch gave the Clinton Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Clinton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Koch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman J. Fred Koch 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 Clinton Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. Fred Koch's cause is highlighted.
How J. Fred Koch Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 8 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Fred Koch is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. Fred Koch was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Clinton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
