Our Fallen Heroes
(Under Construction)
Dennis Avenarius with Aaron Yanna, Fire Chief of the Mineral Point Fire Department. Paul Avenarius, flag designer on the right.
Lt. Frank Porch, Firefighter
Brian C. Busch and
James L. Ludlum, Firefighters
We honor the fallen heroes of our local area.
Patrolman
Albert Meisner
Dubuque Police Department, Iowa
​End of Watch: Wednesday, September 30, 1896
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Biographical Info
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: Not available Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Struck by train
Date of Incident: September 30, 1896 Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Albert Meisner was struck and killed by a train while attempting to remove three tramps from an outbound train at approximately 7:30 pm.
He either fell or was pushed from the train and fell onto the tracks in the path of another train.
Patrolman Meisner was survived by his wife and 11 children.
Patrolman
Daniel Norton
Dubuque Police Department, Iowa
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 6, 1904
Biographical Info
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 6, 1904 Weapon Used: Rifle; .22 caliber Suspect Info: Pardoned in 1914
Patrolman Norton was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Bluff Street. As he approached the house a man came out and opened fire, striking Patrolman Norton in the heart. The suspect ran out into the street and was subdued by several citizens.
The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in Anamosa Penitentiary March 5, 1905. He was pardoned by Governor George W. Clarke March 26, 1914.
Patrolman Norton had served with the agency for 5 years. He was survived by wife, son, and daughter.
Dubuque County Sheriff
Jailer
Leo Hemmer
Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa End of Watch: Monday, October 12, 1925
Biographical Info
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 8 months Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 12, 1925, Weapon Used: Handgun
Jailer Leo Hemmer was shot and killed as he brought food to the prisoners he was guarding.
As Jailer Hemmer opened the door to a holding area to deliver food, he was jumped by three prisoners, one of who pulled a revolver out of his pocket and shot and killed Jailer Hemmer. It is unknown how the revolver was smuggled into the jail. One of the suspects was arrested later that day.
Suspect Info: Two arrested; One committed. Three weeks later deputies surrounded a house suicide in Clinton, Illinois, where the other two suspects were found to be hiding. One shot and killed himself. The other surrendered.
Jailer Hemmer had been employed with the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department for eight months, and was survived by his wife, two children, his mother, and several brothers and sisters.
Patrolman
Albert Meisner
Dubuque Police Department, Iowa
Biographical Info
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: Not available Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Struck by train
Date of Incident: September 30, 1896 Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Albert Meisner was struck and killed by a train while attempting to remove three tramps from an outbound train at approximately 7:30 pm.
He either fell or was pushed from the train and fell onto the tracks in the path of another train.
Patrolman Meisner was survived by his wife and 11 children.
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 30, 1896
