A forum member wrote me a PM and asked why.....
...................Marshal Tyson's name is not on the Officer Down Memorial page. He is not listed on other Memorials to Line of Duty Deaths either, and I will try to explain why.
I first began researching the names of Officers listed on the Arkansas Law Enforcement Officers memorial about 20 years ago,having been a serious student of crime and law enforcement history for many years I felt that a small book should be prepared to go with the memorial which only lists names. I felt that the date & some details as to their sacrifice should be available. Only a couple of hundred names, that won't take long. Boy how wrong I was.
The more I researched the more cases of LOD deaths that were not noted were found. I am currently somewhere near 200 more names than are on the memorial.
How did that happen? Well only in relatively modern times did a concerted effort take place to honor fallen Officers. Prior to that the families, and loved ones, and their co workers, and communities mourned their deaths but then life went on, and the Officers were soon lost in the dusty pages of history.
LOD deaths are found through mostly time consuming searches of newspaper microfilm files.There are other sources that sometimes point out a LOD death. Once one is found more research is necessary to document, and confirm. Many states did not issue death certificates until recent times.Old Case files in departments were thrown out. Family lines died out, and anyone of a number of other reasons that complicate confirmation.
I am working on getting these men added but it is a slow process, and even one forgotten name added is a victory.
It is a never ending task, and one that I hope other folks will take on in their own communities as no truer words were ever spoken than,
it is our duty to never forget!
December 26, 2013, The Arkansas memorial with deep covering of snow.
