IOWA (Reuters) - Republican vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence is one of many who have come to pay their respects to the two Iowa officers shot and killed in their patrol cars on Wednesday (Nov 3).

"At times like this I think its just important that our officers and their families and the families of the fallen know that we stand with and are grateful for men and women who serve on the thin blue line," said Mr Pence.

The man accused of the killings is being held under police guard at a Des Moines hospital.

Scott Michael Greene, 46, is well known to police.

The father of at least three children has been forcibly removed more than once from public school property.

He has been convicted of minor crimes including misdemeanor harassment and was expelled last month from a high school football game after waving a Confederate battle flag.

Now he is accused of murdering two police officers for reasons that authorities say are still unclear.