Mark Allen Swaney, 26, was killed on December 25, 1997, in Davidson, North Carolina, while serving as a Davidson Police Department officer. He had seven years in law enforcement, including two with Davidson. That day he and another officer responded to a report of a man with a gun. After units reunited, Swaney and his sergeant located and began questioning the suspect as bystanders gathered. A bystander grabbed Swaney’s arm, the suspect produced a firearm and shot both officers. The suspect was shot by return fire and pronounced dead at the scene; Officer Swaney was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead about an hour later.

Swaney grew up active in Fieldstone Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, participated in mission trips to Mexico, was a Boy Scout, and took part in high school band and football. He earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Mitchell Community College and began his career with Charlotte-Douglas Airport Police before joining Davidson, where he focused on drug enforcement and youth-related work. Anyone who knew Officer Swaney or witnessed the incident is asked to come forward with information.