Photo: Iowa State Patrol/Sue Danielson
(Des Moines, IA) - Those who worked with Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith, who died in the line of duty in 2021, are spending the early part of this week constructing a chair in his honor. The hand-crafted wooden chair will be on display at State Patrol headquarters in Des Moines.
The effort is backed by a non-profit organization called Saving A Hero's Place. Tommy Capell of the Texas-based organization says they've constructed 257 chairs in 25 states since the organization began in 2013. He says the chair is symbolic to law officers because they begin each day in the same chair at roll call.
Those who worked with fallen officers are encouraged to participate in the chair's assembly as a way to remember the officer and assist in the grieving process.
Sgt. Smith died after being shot during a standoff in Grundy Center in 2021.