Roll of Honor

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Marshal

Hickey Steelman

Bearden Police Department — Bearden, AR

Felonious

End of Watch March 14, 1948

Age 44

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Marshal Hickey Steelman was shot and killed from ambush by a man who held a grudge against him. Marshal Steelman had shot and wounded the suspect one year earlier when he attempted to arrest him on a charge of drunkenness. On May 5th, 1948, the suspect, 33, was convicted of Marshal Steelman's murder and sentenced to life. Marshal Steelman had served with the Bearden Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-FA3ABB2B
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal Steelman gave the Bearden Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bearden community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Steelman.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Bearden Police Department

Location Bearden, AR

Platform Identity bpd.ouachita.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 14, 1948

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Marshal Hickey Steelman is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Bearden Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Bearden Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hickey Steelman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Hickey Steelman Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hickey Steelman is highlighted in Mar.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hickey Steelman was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Bearden Police Department are honored on badge.nw.