Why are flags at half-staff today? Iowa honors officers killed, hurt

Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags around Iowa to be lowered to half-staff on Friday, May 15, in commemoration of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Flags will remain at half-staff from sunrise to sunset at the Capitol and on public buildings, grounds and facilities across the state. Others, including individuals, schools, businesses and government subdivisions, are encouraged to fly flags at half-staff, according to the news release from the governor’s office.

The order comes in conjunction with President Donald Trump‘s proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week. Here’s what to know.

The annual observance honors police officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty, according to the National Policing Institute. President John F. Kennedy established Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962, designating May 15 to recognize fallen and disabled federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

“Duty is a virtue embodied by the fallen peace officers our nation honors on this day,” Reynolds said in a news release. “There truly are no greater public servants than those who wear the uniform and give their lives for it.” 

There have been between 198 and 223 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty in Iowa, dating back to the mid-18th century, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page and the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial.

The most recent was former Des Moines police officer Phoukham Tran, who died in November 2023 from injuries he sustained in 2011 when he was struck by a drunk driver while directing traffic at the Iowa State Fair.

What’s the difference between half-mast and half-staff for flags?

Half-mast is used when the flag is flown from a flagpole, typically referring to a ship mast or similar structures, according to Federal Flags. Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds up between the top and bottom of the flagstaff.

Half-staff is the term used for flags on land, particularly in the United States. Half-staff describes a flag that is raised halfway, between the top and bottom of the flagpole.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.