Honor Twin Falls Fallen Hero

Honor Twin Falls Fallen Hero:

Help Preserve Officer Bracken’s Uniform

Help us honor the memory of a Twin Falls Police Department officer who bravely served our community. Officer Craig Bracken, 45, of the Twin Falls Police Department, was shot and killed in the line of duty while attempting to make an arrest in 1939. He was the first and only loss in the line of duty in the department's history.

On May 8, 1939, Officer Bracken responded with his partner, Officer Ken Barclay, to a report of a stolen vehicle. Convicted felons Danny Williams and William Hale stole an automobile and robbed a service station before being stopped by the officers near the intersection of Washington Street and 4th Avenue West.

Officer Bracken approached the vehicle on the passenger side and was shot by Williams with a .38 caliber Harrington and Richardson revolver, hitting Bracken in his left side just below his heart.

The officers returned fire and Barclay was able to hit and wound both suspects. Barclay was joined by two citizens in chasing after the suspects who helped him to catch and detain Williams, but Hale was able to escape despite a gunshot wound to his head. He was caught the following day trying to hitchhike out of the area. The men were later tried and convicted of grand theft, robbery and the murder of Craig Bracken.

Bracken had been with the TFPD for three years prior to his death and had previously served in the army during World War I. He left behind a wife and three small children.

In January of 2000, Bracken was posthumously awarded the Department's Medal of Valor.

In 2007, almost 70 years after the incident, Captain Hicks of the TFPD went to the Twin Falls County Museum to see if they had anything relating to the history of the TFPD that would help him in compiling a history of the department. The woman he talked to said she did not know of anything, but they had many items in the basement and as they were going through them, she would call him if they found anything relating to the police department.

As he was leaving, she remembered a box that had recently been given to the museum but not put in the basement yet and she believed that the lady dropping it off had mentioned that her father had been a police officer. When Captain Hicks asked if she knew the name she said she thought it was “Bricken or something like that”. When Captain Hicks said, “could it have been Bracken?” She told him that it was.

When examining the box, he did not find anything of interest until he got to the bottom where he found an old WWI uniform. He knew that Officer Bracken served in WWI and figured that it was his old military uniform. Upon closer inspection of the uniform, he noticed a hole in both the jacket and shirt with blood droplets exactly where Officer Bracken had been shot. He knew that many early police departments, including Twin Falls, did not have a common uniform and many officers wore old military uniforms, and he knew at that moment this was the uniform Officer Bracken was wearing the night he was shot and killed. This was later verified by Officer Bracken’s daughter, the woman who dropped off the box.

If Captain Hicks had contacted the museum a few days earlier the box would not have been donated yet. If he came in a few days later the box may have been placed in the basement and when and if the box was opened again the significance of the uniform may have never been known.

The uniform has deteriorated some since it was discovered so we are spearheading the fundraiser to purchase a high-quality museum type display case to preserve and display the uniform.

Twin Falls Masonic Lodge #45 A.F. & A.M. is spearheading this fundraising campaign to help the Twin Falls Police Department properly preserve and display the uniform Officer Bracken was wearing on that tragic night.

Please consider donating to the GoFundMe campaign today. This uniform serves as a powerful symbol of Officer Bracken’s courage and dedication. By preserving this significant piece of history, we ensure his sacrifice is never forgotten and it will stand as a permanent tribute to his heroism, a symbol of our gratitude and a beacon of inspiration for all.

Donations will be used for:

• Professional cleaning and restoration of the uniform

• Archival-quality display case and suit form to display and protect the uniform for future generations

With your help, we can ensure Officer Bracken's legacy lives on and inspires future officers.

Here's how you can contribute:

• Donate any amount you can. Every contribution brings us closer to honoring Officer Bracken’s sacrifice.

• Individuals or businesses who donate $500 or more will have their name placed on a plaque by the Twin Falls Police Department that will be displayed with the uniform.

• Share this campaign with your friends, family and on social media.

• Let's come together to honor a fallen hero.

Additional Information:

• We are working closely with the Twin Falls Police Department to ensure the proper care and display of the uniform.

• Any funds raised exceeding the cost of preservation and display will be used to support law enforcement in the Magic Valley Area.

Thank you for your support!

Together, we can honor Officer Bracken's memory and ensure his service is never forgotten.