On September 24, 1976, Patrolman Randy Monroe Basnett, a 30-year-old officer with the Fort Smith Police Department in Arkansas, was fatally shot in the line of duty. With over four years of service, Basnett was known for his dedication to law enforcement and his commitment to the safety of his community.
The incident occurred in the late afternoon at a service station on Kelley Highway, directly across from the Arkansas State Police barracks.
Patrolman Basnett had stopped at the station when he noticed a vehicle matching the description from a police bulletin issued earlier that day. The car was associated with a suspect wanted for multiple felonies, including a double murder in South Carolina. Recognizing the vehicle, Basnett approached and requested identification from the driver, John Edward Swindler. Instead of complying, Swindler retrieved a. 25 caliber handgun from his car and shot Patrolman Basnett twice in the chest. Despite his injuries, Basnett managed to return fire as Swindler fled the scene, hitting the suspect twice and striking his vehicle four times.
The sound of gunfire alerted nearby Arkansas State Police troopers, who immediately pursued Swindler. A short distance away, they, along with responding Fort Smith officers, apprehended him. At the time of his arrest, Swindler was found in possession of multiple weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, indicating his potential for further violence. Tragically, Patrolman Basnett succumbed to his injuries en route to Sparks Regional Medical Center.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Swindler had been on a crime spree following his release from the United States Prison at Leavenworth, Kansas, just a week prior to the shooting. His criminal activities spanned multiple states, including South Carolina and Georgia, and involved abductions, robberies, and murders. Swindler was charged with capital murder for the killing of Patrolman Basnett. After a series of trials and appeals, he was convicted and sentenced to death. On June 18, 1990, Swindler was executed in the electric chair, marking Arkansas's first execution since 1964 and the only execution by electrocution in the state following the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1977.
Patrolman Basnett's untimely death left a profound void in his family and the Fort Smith community. He was survived by his wife, daughter, stepdaughter, stepson, parents, sister, and brother. His daughter was born shortly after his death, never having the chance to meet her father. The Fort Smith Police Department and the broader community continue to honor his memory and sacrifice, remembering him as a dedicated officer who gave his life in the line of duty.
