Law-enforcement ceremonies thank officers killed on duty

FORT SMITH - Seventy-four deputy marshals who served the federal court at Fort Smith and died more than a century ago were remembered Saturday at the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

The commemoration was part of the National Park Service site’s observance of National Police Week, which this year features the theme “Heroes Live Forever.”

“These men were important in keeping the peace in America just like law-enforcement officers today,” said Park Ranger Jeremy Lynch. “And we are where we are because of what they did. So, every officer’s death is important.”

The name and death date of each slain deputy marshalwere mounted on wooden markers put on display around the grounds. The deputy marshals died while serving the court from 1872-96, the period when the court was located where the historic site is today.

As part of the Police Week observance at the historic site, visitors were able to listen to programs during the day about the difficulties and dangers early deputy marshals faced enforcing the law in the wild Oklahoma Territory. Commemorations were to include a roll call of the officers who died in the line of duty.

The observance was one of many held around the state and country last week to honor officers who died long ago as well as those who died recently.

During a ceremony Tuesday in Fort Smith, Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue said the words “thank you” sounded tinny and inadequate when used to acknowledge the law-enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

“But it’s all we can do,” Shue said.

The ceremony honored the 15 police officers, sheriff’s deputies and Arkansas State Police troopers who have died in Sebastian County since 1904 while putting the safety of the community above their own.

The latest name to be etched into the red-and-black stone memorial monument outside the Sebastian County courts building is that of sheriff’s deputy Cpl. TerryJohnson, who died March 2 after his patrol car ran off a highway in the county.

Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck said during Tuesday’s ceremony that it was fitting that Johnson should be buried at Fort Smith’s Oak Cemetery, where so many other law-enforcement officers, including deputy marshals who also died in the line of duty, are buried.

He thanked Johnson’s wife, Carla, for the sacrifice that she has made.

State Rep. George McGill, D-Fort Smith, presented Carla Johnson with a copy of Resolution 1004 passed during the 89th General Assembly commending Johnson for hisservice to Sebastian County.

Off icials gathered in Springdale on Wednesday to remember and honor the 20 officers who died in the line of duty from 1928-98 in Washington, Benton and Madison counties.

“While we set aside this time of year to remember those brothers and sisters we have lost, they are always in our hearts and we will never forget their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families,” Springdale police Lt. Derek Hudson said during the ceremony.

Johnson County Sheriff John Powers, who was killed in the line of duty in 1902, was added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., for this year’s National Police Week ceremony on Monday.

Current Johnson County Sheriff Jimmy Dorney, who attended the ceremony in Washington, had spearheaded the effort to uncover Powers’ story and have his name added to the monument.

He said Powers was shot and killed while trying to stop a bank robbery in Clarksville. Two men were hanged for the killing, but the man believed to have fired the fatal shot was never brought to justice.

Dorney said Powers was very popular in the community. He had served 12 years as sheriff and probably would have served longer had he not been killed. His popularity is evident in the 10-foot-tall monument that marks Powers’ grave, which was purchased with money donated by residents of the county, Dorney said.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 15 on 05/19/2013

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