Boozman honors fallen law officers

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Boozman paid tribute last week to Arkansas law enforcement officials who have died in the line of duty.

In a speech on the Senate floor, he paid tribute to Drew County Sheriff’s Deputy Timothy Braden, Newport Police Lt. Patrick Weatherford, Yell County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Mainhart and Turrell Police Chief Keith Bradford Sr.

Each of the men, Boozman said, had demonstrated “courage and determination in the face of danger.”

“These heroes, like all members of the law enforcement community, commit their lives to protecting the public. In their profession there is no such thing as an off-duty officer. Answering a call for help is ingrained in who they are,” he said.

The Arkansas men’s names have been added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial; they join more than 21,000 other Americans who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Tuesday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Braden, Weatherford and Mainhart died in 2017. Bradford suffered a heart attack while on duty in 2014, two hours after helping with a high-speed chase.

Overall, 360 names were added to the memorial, which is located in downtown Washington.

In his speech, Boozman noted that he had co-sponsored the Honoring Hometown Heroes Act, which allows governors to have flags lowered to half-staff when a first responder dies in the line of duty.

The provision was included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which is now law, he noted.