Today is National Peace Officer Memorial Day, and the family of a Pella officer killed on duty 38 years ago continues to remember his legacy.

John E. Van Haaften was shot and killed in April of 1980 while conducting an undercover drug bust in Knoxville.

His daughter Tricia Van Zee tells KNIA/KRLS News her father loved the community and to serve and protect the public, as the many officers around the country do every day, as well as those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“My dad loved being a police officer,” she says. “It’s not anything you go into mildly, and so everyone in that role, it’s not their intent to be the bad guy, their intent is to protect us from the bad guy.”

Sharyl Hanthorn was married to John when he was killed, and she honors him annually with a scholarship given to graduating high school seniors. She hopes his legacy lives on through those students.

From Marion County, Knoxville Officer M.A. “Bert” Conrey, Marion County Jailer Virgil Behrens, Marion County Deputy Harold Gates, and Pella Police Officer John Van Haaften all died on duty.