Theodore J. Behne
Born: January 1st, 1970
Died: October 6th, 1993
Obituary
Former veteran Burlington Police officer Theodore J. Behne who served briefly as police chief died Wednesday.
Behne, 82, a 25 year veteran of the department, was appointed chief in 1952.
He resigned after one week, though, when several police officers filed a civil suit claiming veteran’s preference for the appointment. Behne returned to his former rank of sergeant and was promoted to traffic captain that same year.
He retired from the department in 1966 and became a lieutenant and assistant chief for the IAAP guard force.
In the past five years, Behne served as president of the police department’s chapter of the Iowa State Police Association.
He conducted fundraising events to benefit families of deceased officers and was attending a police association conference in Waterloo when he died.
Behne’s son, Theodore A Behne, also served as Burlington’s police chief. He was chief from 1976, 1989.
Funeral services will be 10:30 am Saturday at Lunning Chapel with burial at Aspen Grove Cemetery. Father Michael Phillips will be officiating. Friends may call after 8:00 am Friday, October 8th, and family will receive friends following a 6:00 vigil service in Lunning Chapel until 8:00 pm.