DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Des Moines area police officers were shot to death early Wednesday in ambush-style attacks while they were sitting in their patrol cars, and police are searching for suspects, authorities said.
Officers responded to a report of shots fired at 1:06 a.m. and found an Urbandale Police Department officer who had been shot. Authorities from several agencies saturated the area after that shooting, and about 20 minutes later discovered that a Des Moines officer had been shot in a patrol car at an intersection, Des Moines Sgt. Paul Parizek said. The shootings happened about 2 miles apart and both took place along main streets that cut through residential areas.
"There's somebody out there shooting police officers. We hope to find him before somebody else gets hurt," said Parizek, who stopped briefly during a news conference as he worked to control his emotions.
The shootings follow a spate of police killings, including ambushes of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Five officers were killed in Dallas on July 7 and three were killed later that month in Baton Rouge.
Authorities in Iowa are developing suspect information but they have nothing that they are ready to share with the public, Parizek said. Officers are now conducting patrols in pairs for protection, he said.
"There is a clear and present danger to police officers," Parizek said.
Parizek said he wouldn't release more information about the shootings.
Urbandale Sgt. Chad Underwood said Urbandale officers are equipped with body cameras, but they don't run constantly and it's unclear whether there was video of the shootings.
Urbandale is a suburb of about 40,000 people in the Des Moines metro area with about 50 officers. Officials in Urbandale cancelled school for the day.
Des Moines has about 375 sworn officers.
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Urbandale posted:Des Moines has about 375 sworn officers.
Clever use of ambiguity so the editor doesn't have to do an article correction every time they lose another one
better luck next time
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le_nelson_mandela_face posted:lol that Urbandale is the name of a real city. it sounds like a place a nicktoon lives
One thing I've learned is everyone's web nickname is unbearably basic like 90s thriller computer password level obvious. Like I'm sure your real name is Stan Goat.
It’s kind of sad I won’t be around to view and enjoy The Hangover III. What an awesome trilogy. Todd Phillips, don’t make anymore Hangovers after the third, takes away the originality of its foundation. World
War Z looks good and The Walking Dead season 3 (second half) looked intriguing. Damn, gonna miss shark week . .
Hillary Clinton. You’ll make one hell of a president in 2016. Much like your husband, Bill, you will be one of the greatest. Look at Castro in San Antonio as a running mate or possible secretary of state. He’s (good people) and I have faith and confidence in him. Look after Bill. He was always my favorite President.
Chelsea grew up to be one hell of an attractive woman. No disrespect to her husband . . .
Larry David, I agree. 72-82 degrees is way to hot in a residence. 68 , degrees is perfect.
Urbandale posted:officers are equipped with body cameras, but they don't run constantly
Bahaha; baha, ha, ha.