By DAMON C. WILLIAMS
Philadelphia Daily News
williadc@phillynews.com 215-854-5924
Little is known about Police Officer Frank Slaymaker.And unfortunately for Chief Inspector James Tiano and his small but dedicated staff, even less is known about Slaymaker’s family.
The Police Department plans to honor the life and heroism of Slaymaker – who was killed in the line of duty on June 11, 1906 – with a plaque dedication in June. But, so far, no members of his family have been found to attend the dedication.
“We are searching for the family, but it’s been such a long time” since Slaymaker was killed, said Tiano – who, usually with Capt. Dennis Gallagher, visits surviving relatives of fallen officers before a plaque ceremony. “But we did one for an officer killed in 1919, and he had a big family there.”
According to Tiano, Slaymaker was killed when he apprehended a man and a woman who had robbed a Chinese restaurant.
The man shot Slaymaker, but the officer was still able to hold the suspects until assisting officers arrived.
Slaymaker died 10 days later.
“This [effort] is very important, because these are our extended families,” Gallagher said.
“Injured or slain, we always consider them family. But we didn’t have a single piece of record on his family.”
Both the fire and police departments recognize fallen comrades through the plaque program, and it doesn’t matter when the honoree died.
Police officials said that records of Slaymaker’s family may have been lost.
“The goal is, if there are any Slaymaker relatives – and I’m sure there are – to contact us,” said Tiano.
“We really want and need for his family to be there.”
For details on the search for Slaymaker’s family, or to provide information, call Tiano at 215-685-3655
