Thomas I. Hairston

Fort Smith Police Department — Fort Smith, AR

Cardiac

End of Watch September 27, 1936

Age 62

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Hairston suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being involved in a shooting of a suspect.

He and his partner were on patrol when they heard shots fired nearby. As they went to investigate, they observed a man walking in the roadway with a rifle. The man continued walking towards them even after being ordered to stop. Patrolman Hairston opened fire on the suspect, striking him in the chest.

After shooting the man, Patrolman Hairston ran two blocks to a nearby factory and called for an ambulance. He then ran back to the scene where he collapsed. He died while being transported to the hospital.

Patrolman Hairston had served with the Fort Smith Police Department for 7 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-D35E1429
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 Hairston gave the Fort Smith Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hairston.

— 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 27, 1936

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 62

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Patrolman Thomas I. Hairston is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AR, 13 of 372 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.5% of this state's fallen.

At Fort Smith Police Department, 1 of 12 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 8.3% of this agency's fallen.

Fort Smith Police Department

of 12 officers

8.3% Cardiac

AR — Statewide

of 372 officers

3.5% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac