Name Virgil Stammeyer | Died May 17, 2008 | |
Virgil F. Stammeyer (February 26, 1926 – May 17, 2008) was a former officer with the Iowa State Patrol. He was well known for his actions during a high speed chase from Maquoketa, Iowa to Key West, Iowa, and became one of the few officers wounded in the line of duty.
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Early life
Stammeyer was born in Waucoma, Iowa, the son of Matthew and Anna Stammeyer. He graduated from Visitation High School in Stacyville, Iowa in 1944 and from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1948. In 1951 Stammeyer was appointed to the Iowa State Patrol after graduating from the Iowa State Police Academy. Stammeyer would serve nearly 40 years as a trooper with the patrol.
June 1990
On June 22, 1990 Robert and Lynda Douglas, of Springfield, Ohio were suspected of committing a grocery store robbery in Maquoketa, Iowa. The pair left Maquoketa with Stammeyer pursuing them. The chase, which reached speeds of 90 MPH took the suspects and the following officers through Jackson and Dubuque counties. During the course of the pursuit Stammeyer was shot in the throat and shoulders, but continued to follow until the suspect's vehicle spun out near Key West, Iowa. Robert Douglas killed his wife before officers shot and arrested him. Douglas was later convicted of murder.
On July 1 Stammeyer retired from the patrol. The next year he was honored with the Commissioner's Certificate of Valor for his actions during the pursuit and standoff. Stammeyer was later featured on the Top Cop television show.