Randy Monroe Basnett

Fort Smith Police Department — Fort Smith, AR

Felonious

End of Watch September 24, 1976

Age 30

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 6 mo

Badge 42

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Patrolman Randy Basnett was shot and killed when he confronted a double-murder suspect. Patrolman Basnett was in the parking lot of a service station when the suspect pulled into the parking lot as well. He had recognized the suspect's car from a bulletin provided to the police department earlier in the day. When Patrolman Basnett asked for identification the suspect reached inside of his vehicle, produced a .25 caliber handgun, and shot Patrolman Basnett in the chest. Patrolman Basnett returned fire at the fleeing suspect. Two shots struck the suspect and four shots struck the suspect's car. The shooting occurred across the street from an Arkansas State Police barracks. Several troopers who heard the shots pursued the suspect and assisted other Fort Smith officers in arresting the suspect a short distance away. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed on June 18, 1990. Patrolman Basnett had served with the Fort Smith Police Department for 4-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, stepdaughter, stepson, parents, sister and brother. He daughter was born shortly after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, stepdaughter, stepson, parents, sister and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-0FBD7C5F
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.
Patrolman Basnett gave the Fort Smith Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Basnett.

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

Agency

Department Fort Smith Police Department

Location Fort Smith, AR

Platform Identity fortpd.sebastian.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 24, 1976

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 6 mo

Age 30

Badge Number 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber

Offender Executed in 1990

Patrolman Randy Monroe Basnett 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 Fort Smith Police Department, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Fort Smith Police Department

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious