Thomas I. Hairston
Agency patch
Patrolman

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

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

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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

Type Police Department
Location Fort Smith, Sebastian County, 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

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Thomas is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1936, 9 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 68th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 62. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Thomas had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Fort Smith Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

Patrolman Thomas I. Hairston

Fort Smith Police Department · End of Watch September 27, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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