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Incident
Senior Police Officer Phoukham Tran succumbed to injuries he received when he was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of East 30th Street and East Grand Avenue in Des Moines on August 19, 2011.
Officer Tran was directing traffic at the Iowa State Fair when the driver of a pickup hit him and threw him 47 feet into the air. He was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he was treated for traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, and ruptured spleen.
The driver was convicted of serious injury by vehicle, operating while intoxicated-2nd offense, and possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to seven years.
Officer Tran remained wheelchair-bound, suffering from seizures and speech, memory, vision, and coordination issues. On November 2, 2023, he passed away from his injuries.
Officer Tran had served with the Des Moines Police Department as a police officer for over 12 years and was a cadet with the agency for 18 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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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.
Senior Police Officer Tran gave the Des Moines Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Des Moines community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Police Officer Tran.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Des Moines Police Department has lost 27 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
Phoukham is one of 71 officers lost to accidents in IA, 31.4% of the 226 remembered there.
Phoukham is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Phoukham is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2023, 1 officer at Des Moines Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2023, 1 officer in IA was lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 50 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 3.
In 2023, 43 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 106th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2023, 46 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 110th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Phoukham was 65. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Des Moines Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 47; the middle age was 35. Phoukham had served 12.5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Phoukham was 65. Of the 69 lost to accidents in IA whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48; the middle age was 38. Phoukham had served 12.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Phoukham was 65. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Phoukham had served 12.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Phoukham was 65. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Phoukham had served 12.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 14.3% of these deaths at Des Moines Police Department; August holds the most, 28.6%. Thursdays: 42.9%.
November holds 8.5% of these deaths in IA; June holds the most, 16.9%. Thursdays: 15.5%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25.9% of all 27 deaths at Des Moines Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 31.4% of all 226 deaths in IA, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 1.4% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 0.2% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; alcohol involved, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Des Moines Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, Phoukham among them.
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Edward H. Wishart Jul 1, 1891
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Augustus C. Becker
Feb 19, 1904
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Frank Delmege
Sep 20, 1909
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George William Mattern
Apr 12, 1918
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Charles Chester Jackson
Dec 16, 1918
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Cornelius J. McCarthy
Sep 27, 1919
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Ollie D. Thomas
Aug 20, 1925
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Gerald D. Pickett
Sep 24, 1925
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James A. Staggs
Apr 20, 1928
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Harry Ogilvie
Jul 12, 1930
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Rupert L. Shepherd
Aug 1, 1930
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James Joshua Cowart
Dec 7, 1931
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Harry Linn Booton
Dec 11, 1932
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Steven Tabor Howard
Mar 2, 1935
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George Wesley Schane
May 4, 1942
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Charles Thomas Andreano
Jul 30, 1964
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James Emery Rodine
Aug 13, 1968
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Brian Charles Melton
Apr 21, 1977
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Dennis Earl Hill
Aug 28, 1977
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Sean Wissink
Feb 11, 2007
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Roger Ray Hildreth
Feb 21, 2008
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David Allen Bowen
Sep 29, 2008
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Susan Louise Farrell
Mar 26, 2016
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Carlos Bernabe Puente-Morales
Mar 26, 2016
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Anthony David Beminio
Nov 2, 2016
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Joseph Morgan
Sep 16, 2020
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Phoukham Tran
Nov 2, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-WT
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Des Moines Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
