Ark. Police Officer Drowns Saving Fiancée Hours After Proposal

Rogers Police Officer Fred Marsh drowned while trying to save his fiancée from a river current during a canoe trip, just hours after the couple became engaged that morning.

Source Officer.com News

Joe Vince

July 23, 2026

2 min read

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Off-duty Rogers Police Officer Fred Marsh drowned Saturday after entering the Elk River to help his fiancée in distress while canoeing with friends.
His fiancée's mother said Marsh was swept under by a current while trying to help her daughter, who had become engaged to him earlier that same day.
Marsh, a first-year police officer who graduated from the academy in April, was remembered by his department for his selfless service and positive impact on fellow officers.

An off-duty Arkansas police officer drowned Saturday while saving his fiancée after the two had become engaged.

Rogers Police Officer Fred Marsh had been canoeing along the Elk River with his fiancée and friends, the department stated in a news release. Marsh was in his first year as an officer and had graduated from the academy in April.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Marsh had entered the water to help another swimmer. He then became "distressed and exhausted and went under the water and did not resurface," the report stated.

"This is a heartbreaking loss for our department," Chief Jonathan Best said in a statement. "Officer Marsh had a bright future ahead of him and had already made a positive impact on those who had the privilege of serving alongside him. His willingness to serve others and the enthusiasm he brought to this profession will not be forgotten."

Sheryl Padgett, the mother of Marsh's fiancée, told KHBS-TV that her daughter was caught up in a current while trying to get back to a kayak. Marsh tried to help her, but the current swept him under.

Padgett said the Marsh and her daughter had been together for three years. They had become engaged earlier that morning.

"My precious Son in Law thank you for loving my daughter and us like your own!" Padgett wrote in a comment on the police department's Facebook page. "We will always love you Fred!"

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise money for Marsh's fiancee.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.