Community continues to rally around Martin family one year after son’s line-of-duty death

A year ago, Rockwell City residents woke up to the news that they had lost one of their own.
Justin Martin, 24, had been shot and killed in the line of duty while working a night shift for the Urbandale Police Department. A Rockwell City native, Martin had aspired to law enforcement for years and was well regarded around town.
The year has been full of heartwarming stories of the good Martin did as a police officer, his parents said in an email interview with The Graphic-Advocate last week.
“As we approach the anniversary of the loss of Justin, our family is trying to remember Justin for all the good he accomplished in such a short time,” Randy Martin wrote. “Many of the stories we have heard from his friends, colleagues, and total strangers have told us about a young man who went into law enforcement for the right reasons, to help and serve the community. Justin's fellow officer in Urbandale told us that if Justin was on your shift and you asked for back-up he was one of the first officers to arrive. … We have had several people tell us of their interactions with Justin when he was patrolling Urbandale, they all said he was very polite and professional.”
The stories haven’t all been serious, either, Randy wrote. 
Read more in the Nov. 8 edition.