In the late hours of a Friday night on June 8, 1984, Bret Nathan Sunner, a 25-year-old male police officer with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, responded to a domestic disturbance call that would end his life. Having served on the force for three years, Officer Sunner was known for his quick smile, ready wit, and fierce dedication, earning eight letters of commendation during his short career.
The call, a notoriously dangerous situation for law enforcement, led him to a residence on Hamilton Street Southwest where a man named Leonard Berg was reported to be armed.
Upon arrival, officers were warned that the 45-year-old suspect was inside with a 12-gauge shotgun. As the situation evolved, Berg moved into the backyard, prompting Officer Sunner and his colleagues to reposition to a nearby alley. While attempting to use a neighbor's garage for cover and advance toward the suspect's location, Officer Sunner was struck by a blast from the shotgun. The shot was instantaneous and fatal. In the ensuing moments, Berg also fired at a police car, injuring Officer William Hansy with shrapnel before being wrestled to the ground and disarmed by other officers without any further shots being fired by law enforcement.
Leonard Berg was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. He was held at the Linn County Jail on a $550,000 bond. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Officer Sunner. The man responsible for the officer's death remained incarcerated for the rest of his life, dying in prison on January 4, 2015. The death of Officer Sunner, who was survived by his parents and two sisters, was a profound loss for the community and his department, marking the first time in 23 years that a Cedar Rapids police officer had been killed in the line of duty, also stemming from a domestic disturbance call.
