In the era when many families are discovering their roots through DNA testing, it’s affirming to hear how one extended family found each other across the Atlantic Ocean to remember and honor a relative who died in the line of duty on June 24, 1916.

“Hi, I’m Thomas Tynan. I’m your cousin, and your fallen officer grandfather was my grandfather’s … younger brother,” Thomas relayed to Tim Tynan. Thomas then explained that he keeps a framed photo of Spokane Police Traffic Officer Michael F. Tynan, dressed in full uniform, on his desk in County Longford, Ireland.

According to family history, Michael and half of his 13 siblings emigrated to the U.S., while the others remained in Ireland. He eventually made his way to Washington state, where he started his own family and began a career in law enforcement. On that fateful summer day, Michael responded to a domestic disturbance call, where the suspect shot him three times. Michael died a few hours later, leaving behind his wife and two sons, ages 5 years old and 9 months. That baby became Tim’s father.

Tim, his siblings and their children gathered in Spokane on June 24, 110 years after losing their family member in the line of duty, to attend a remembrance ceremony honoring Michael. The Spokane Regional Fallen Officers Memorial Project unveiled a sign near the site of the shooting as a reminder of Michael’s and his family’s sacrifice. Since 2019, the nonprofit has raised 17 signs honoring the community’s fallen officers.

To this day, Officer Tynan’s photo remains proudly displayed on Thomas’ desk in Ireland. Tim has visited his cousin on multiple occasions since receiving that out-of-the-blue phone call.