Turrell Police chief to (finally) be honored

Turrell Police chief to (finally) be honored

Bradford, who suffered a fatal heart attack following a pursuit, to have name added to memorials

news@theeveningtimes.com

Its a simply a matter of honor and respect. Honor should be given where honor is due. It’s that simple for Crittenden County Sheriff Mike Allen in the case of late Turrell Police Chief Keith Bradford, Sr.

Chief Bradford suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after responding to a call from the neighboring Jericho police to help with a vehicle pursuit. He made the scene April 2, 2014, and checked on the well being of everyone before returning to the station. There, shortly after returning, he collapsed, CPR was administered. Bradford was transported to Crittenden Regional Hospital where he died from the severe heart attack.

Bradford was 55, served 20 years in law enforcement in Crittenden County, and was survived by his wife and five children.

Nearly four years later meaningful recognition of Bradford’s service related death has finally come. It arrived in two forms, financial assistance to his widow and recognition on police memorials in Little Rock and the nation’s capital.

Allen reported the developments.

“It was determined by information obtained that Chief Bradford’s widow qualified under the law for survivor benefits,” said Allen.

Both the state of Arkansas and the federal Department of Justice concurred in the findings.

The Arkansas chapter of the group named Concerns for Police Survivors (COPS) will sponsor Bradford’s widow. Lt. Darrell Prewitt of the Crittenden County Sheriffs will do the honors of escorting her to the ceremony in Washington D.C.

“It’s taken almost four years to get his name on the wall,” said Allen. “It is customary

that an officer escorts the widow to the honors.”

The Sheriff’s department is hunting for donations to make the trip possible for Prewitt.

Tax deductible donations may be made to the Crittenden County Memorial Officers funds in care of the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

“Any donations over the trip expenses will go toward the upkeep of the County Fallen Officer’s Memorial in Worthington Park,” said Allen.

The Public Safety Officer’s Benefit’s program was instituted in 1976 to help out the families of emergency workers that die in the line of duty. But the program has been plagued with delayed benefit decisions according to the sheriff. Persistence finally paid off.

“Police survivors often await death benefits for years,” said Allen. “There was an article in USA today in 2015 about how long it takes. Nothing has changed.”

By John Rech