A West Des Moines, Iowa police officer was killed after his personal motorcycle collided with a car while he was on-duty returning from court proceedings on Wednesday.
Officer Shawn Miller had finished testifying in a hit-and-run case at the Dallas County Courthouse when he was involved in the collision at the intersection of Highway 169 and Interstate 80 around 1:30 p.m., according to KCCI-TV.
Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said that the car, driven by 38-year-old Jeanette Keifer, was traveling on Highway 169 and was turning onto the I-80 ramp at De Soto when Miller's motorcycle couldn't stop in time and hit the passenger side of the vehicle.
The 29-year law enforcement veteran was pronounced dead at the scene.
"He was not an officer that just came to work and worked his 8 hours and went home," Wes Des Moines Sgt. Jason Bryan said during a press conference. "He was heavily involved in the department."
Miller -- who was set to be promoted to sergeant in a few weeks -- was a firearms instructor, field training officer and evidence technician.
"Officer Miller was someone who always made himself available to anybody," Police Chief Shaun LaDue said. "He never judged people. He was there to serve them and he looked at that as his mission."
Miller leaves behind his wife and three children.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
