Police seek fallen officers’ graves
Sites for 8 from LR force still unknown, in need of tribute
On Dec. 30, 1885, Little Rock police officer William L. Copeland, a two-year veteran of the department, was walking to the police station when he saw a man wearing state-convict clothes at the intersection of Fifth and Rector streets. Upon questioning the man, a brawl ensued and Copeland was stabbed with a knife and hit in the head with a blunt object. Copeland was treated at a local drug store by a doctor, but died from his injuries.
The man, who was a trusty at the state prison and was allowed to be out the day of the attack, was later convicted of Copeland’s murder.
A narrative of Copeland’s story is engraved on a plaque hanging in the lobby of the Little Rock Police Department headquarters, along with 22 other stories of officers killed in the line of duty.
As a way to honor their fallen brothers, members of the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police started searching about a month ago for all 23 graves in order to place special markers recognizing their sacrifices during Police Memorial Week, which started Monday.
“It’s part of our history, part of what our men and women go through every day when they put that uniform on,” Detective Mark Knowles said. “There could be a day where we don’t come home.”
This week, grave markers — which include an American flag, a thin blue-lined flag representing the line police walk between “peace and anarchy,” and bronze police badges — have been placed on 15 graves, with eight still needing to be located, Knowles said.
“We know who they are, we know their stories but we don’t have a list of where they are buried,” Lt. Terry Hastings said.
Hastings said the markers will be removed at the end of the week and placed back each year during this memorial week.
About a month ago, Knowles said Richard Glascock, an executive board member with the police organization, suggested finding
the graves and marking them in time for Police Memorial Week.
“They know we’re here to take care of them,” Knowles said. “When their service ends at the cemetery ... it’s not the end of it.”
In the weeks since, members of the Fraternal Order of Police, with the help of cemeteries and local historical societies, have researched various records, including online archives, interment reports and newspaper clippings, and have even contacted families of the deceased to try to locate the graves.
After his relatives came forward in 1996, Copeland was recognized as the first known Little Rock officer killed on the job. Hastings said the Little Rock Police Department was established in 1865.
“For 111 years, [Copeland] was forgotten about,” Detective Chuck Ray said.
Copeland was buried in the black part of Oakland Fraternal Cemetery in Little Rock, and his grave had become barely visible after its stone had been knocked down and vegetation had grown over it. In the past weeks, Knowles said, cemetery workers helped clean Copeland’s headstone and put it in a standing position again.
If a headstone of a fallen officer is damaged, Knowles said the Fraternal Order of Police will pay to have it fixed. The organization is funded through membership dues, and Knowles said it has about 500 working officers as members and several retired members.
“The money doesn’t matter to us,” Knowles said, adding, “Our officers take care of their own.”
The search has taken volunteers to several cemeteries, including some as far away as Forrest City in northeast Arkansas.
Knowles said the organization tries hard to stay connected with the surviving family members, including sending cards and presents for children. In 2000, the FOP created a survivors’ fund.
“We’re always thinking of ways to let the families know we haven’t forgotten them,” Knowles said.
Despite Ray not knowing Copeland nor many of the other officers being honored, he said they are all “brothers” in the force.
“To me it is a huge honor” to help find the graves, Ray said. “This man is one of our fallen brothers. It’s not different than anyone dying today.”
Even though the remaining eight graves may not be found this week, the search will continue, Ray said.
“We really would like to find and honor them, too,” Ray said.
The officers’ graves not yet found and their death dates are:
Sgt. Samuel Neal Mcdermont 9/3/1930
Off. Harvey L. Biggs 7/27/1924
Det. Sgt. Luther C. Hay 7/26/1923
Off. Charles Faulkner 7/13/1924
Off. John W. Cabiness 8/12/1922
Off. Thomas D. Hudson 8/19/1920
Sgt. William I. Campbell 4/18/1912
Off. Alvin Joseph Free 9/27/1970
Anyone with information relating to the graves can call Knowles at (501) 327-4744.