Frank Delmege
Agency patch
Detective

Frank Delmege

Des Moines Police Department — Des Moines, IA
Felonious
End of Watch September 20, 1909
Age 37
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 14
The Vigil Panel 24 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Frank Delmege was shot and killed while responding to a man with a gun call his neighborhood. He was on duty, at home, when his department called him to the scene with another officer. As the officers approached the suspect's house he emerged from inside and walked to edge of the lawn, which was elevated seven feet above the sidewalk. He then shot Detective Delmege point-blank. The other officer returned fire, striking the suspect in the chest three times and wounding him. The suspect was eventually sentenced to life in prison where he later died.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Delmege gave the Des Moines Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Delmege.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Des Moines, Polk County, IA
Platform Identity dmpd.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 20, 1909
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 14
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Frank is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1909, 99 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Frank was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Des Moines Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, Frank among them.

Detective Frank Delmege

Des Moines Police Department · End of Watch September 20, 1909

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W

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