Former F.W.P.D. Master Sergeant Kenneth Hayden recognized at the national memorial
CRIME & SAFETY
Courtesy of Raquel Foster, Public Information Officer, City of Fort Wayne Police Department
On Aug. 19, 1974, Sergeant Hayden was accidentally shot in his leg as he responded to a robbery in progress at the former Fairfield Liquors store. Following a period of recovery he went back to work. Eleven years later, while investigating an accident scene, Sergeant Hayden fractured his leg in the same spot as the previous injury. While in surgery, doctors located a tumor and his leg was amputated. Master Sergeant Hayden retired with a medical disability on May 13, 1986. In 1987 and 1988, metastatic cancer was removed from his lungs and he underwent several rounds of chemotherapy. On Sept. 12, 1989, Sergeant Hayden died of osteogenic sarcoma and pulmonary metastases at the age of 41.
Master Sergeant Hayden was survived by his wife, Joan; four sons, Christopher, Joseph, Benjamin, and Michael; two brothers Paul and Donald; and a sister, Joyce M.
Joan Hayden has been working with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial over the past eighteen month to gain recognition for her husband and has been assisted in her efforts by the FWPD. From this date forward Master Sergeant Kenneth Hayden will also be recognized as a line of duty death by the Fort Wayne Police Department.
Chief Rusty York and Detective Judy Schon joined the Hayden family in Washington, D.C. for the ceremony.
This article originally appeared in our May 22, 2013 issue.
Category: Local
