Founded in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is dedicated to telling the story of American Law Enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. A nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, the Memorial Fund built and continues to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial—the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

A Pikeville Police officer is now nationally recognized nearly 100 years after his death.

On May 16th,1929 39-year-old Alonzo “Lon” Robinson put on a badge for the last time.

Until now, his story was not widely known.

One retired police officer for the Pikeville Police Department, Aaron Thompson, saw this as an injustice.

Robinson was shot and killed while serving a search warrant on a man for possessing liquor at his home.

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Prohibition Amendment, was adopted in the 1920s. This made the making, selling, possessing, and consuming of alcoholic drinks illegal.

In order to prove Robinson’s death, Thompson needed to sift through years of documentation.

Thompson also needed to get in contact with one of Robinson’s family members.

He said he is thankful to have found one granddaughter, now living in Ohio.

In order to place Robinson’s name on the wall, Thompson needed verification of Robinson’s death, life, and standing with the police department, among other things.

Robinson is one of two Pikeville Police officers killed in the line of duty, The other, Scotty Hamilton, was shot and killed in 2018.

According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial website, the memorial features two curved, 304-foot-long blue-gray marble walls.

Carved on those walls are the names of more than 21,000 officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history.

The next Police Week in Washington, Robinson’s will be on a candlelight vigil and his name will finally be etched into the wall.

Officials believe Police Week in Washington D.C. will be held in May.