Anamosa officer who died on duty committed suicide

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — An Anamosa police officer who died on duty earlier this month committed suicide.

The Gazette reported that Police Chief Bob Simonson said state investigators and autopsy reports confirmed that Officer David Riches took his own life while on duty on Oct. 3.

The 33-year-old Riches also was a part-time deputy for the Jones County sheriff’s office.

Simonson confirmed Thursday that Riches parked his patrol car at the pedestrian bridge near the entrance to Wapsipinicon State Park, left the car there and walked to the middle of the bridge where he shot himself.

Special Agent Bill Kietzman with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says Simonson wanted to wait until after Riches’ funeral last Saturday to make the announcement.