Deputy Remembered And Honored By Communities

Keokuk County Sheriff Jeff Shipley (left) and Mahaska County Sheriff Paul DeGeest (right) stand behind the memorial placed at the Keokuk County Sheriff's Office in memory of Sgt. Eric Stein

Sigourney, Iowa – On a quiet, grey September morning, members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office and Keokuk County Sheriff Jeff Shipley had a time for some thoughts about their friend, Sgt. Eric Stein.

A plaque was fixed to a rock that had been plowed up by Eric’s dad some years ago, and now sits along the driveway leading into the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office. That rock, once plowed up, was placed in the front yard of the Steins’ farm where growing up, Eric would spend hours playing on it. Mahaska County Sheriff Paul DeGeest said that when they came up with the idea, “His dad wanted to know if we would be interested in using that. Obviously by all means.”

Funds for the memorial were generated by a biscuit and gravy breakfast that was hosted by the Mahaska County Sheriffs Department, where nearly 500 people attended. Many people from Keokuk County also came over, making this a real community project that many people have been involved with along the line.

Bill and Rays used a wrecker and a flat bed truck to load and haul the rock from the farm to the Sheriff’s Office. Once there, they had the plaque attached to the rock.

Sheriff Jeff Shipley joined in the dedication of the memorial to his fallen friend and co-worker. “It’s just a real nice act by our neighboring county. Everybody surrounding us went above and beyond, and still do.”

A better view of the plague at the Sgt Eric Stein Memorial at the Keokuk County Sheriff's Office

One has to wonder what Sgt. Stein would think of the memorial in his honor. “Oh, he’d be pretty proud of that. Paul, as well as his deputies, pretty much caught the essence of Eric and what he enjoyed,” Sheriff Shipley said of the memorial and plaque. “Yeah, he’d be extremely proud of that.”

“He’s never going to be forgotten by the staff here and the people that worked with him ever,” Shipley said about the memorial and its’ placement and how it might impact those that come and go.

Sheriff DeGeest said that, “Not a day goes by that somehow, someway you don’t relate something to it.”

Sheriff Shipley says that his team has been coming together good since the loss of Sgt. Stein. “We’re doing well, moving ahead, as well as anybody.”

DeGeest said that there are some remaining funds from gracious donations from the community, and after speaking with Eric’s father, Lonnie Stein, who might also be adding some matching funds, the group will attempt to start a scholarship program for criminal justice at Indian Hills.

Once again, while honoring one fallen hero, Iowa suffers the loss of another law enforcement officer. A 24 year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol died in a car crash on Tuesday, once again reminding us of the dangers that face those who swear an oath to uphold the law.

The Sheriff’s Department said this is really about the community coming together to honor someone. A list of those who helped and donated is as follows, and might not be complete. If someone is missing, it certainly is not on purpose.

• Mahaska County Sheriffs Posse
• Law Enforcement and family members
• Forest Cemetery
• Bill and Rays Truck Repair
• Woodys Monument Lettering
• Ben Shinn Trucking
• Stam Greenhouse
• Oskaloosa Herald
• American Legion
• Wal-Mart
• McDonalds
• Osky News
• Hy-Vee
• Julie’s Cafe
• KBOE
• Fareway