FORT SMITH- Services were held today for Van Buren Police Officer Cpl. Michael Stewart at Spradling Baptist Church. Stewart passed away on February 14th, 2019.
Sgt. Jonthan Wear, Public Information Officer with the Van Buren Police Officer, released the follow in statement in a press release in reference to Cpl. Stewart’s passing:
“Today, we laid to rest our brother, Michael Don Stewart. Mike started at the Van Buren Police Department as a volunteer reserve officer in 1996. Officer Stewart went on to become part time officer in 2009, and then a full time officer in 2011 before rising to the rank of Corporal in 2017. Corporal Stewart was a SWAT Team Member, a member of the Van Buren Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #52, and he was a well loved member of the Van Buren Police Department.
Mike loved being around his brothers and sisters in blue, and he holds a very special place in the hearts of all members of the Van Buren Police Department today. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed fishing and hanging out with friends and family. Anyone who knew Mike, knew that he was a man who greatly loved his family.
It is with sadness that we no longer have Mike Stewart here with us today, but it is with joy that we know that he is no longer suffering from the horrible cancer that eventually took his life. We will forever remember Mike Stewart as kind, loving, humble, caring, and selfless. He is the kind of officer we all aspire to be, and he never wavered in setting a great example for us to follow. Until we see you again Mike, rest easy brother, we’ll take it from here.”
Cpl. Stewart was 53 years old and served the Van Buren Police Department for 21 years.
