365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­

In the eyes of those who assist in the operations of the Tyler Stewart Foundation, the addition of the foundation’s logo to the gymnasium floor of the Boys and Girls Club is a fitting tribute.

Officially unveiled at a Jan. 31 celebration attended by members of Stewart’s family, the foundation, the community, the Northern Arizona University (NAU) football team and the community, the logo was placed inside the key just in front of the free-throw line on both ends of the court.

The collaboration between the foundation and the Boys and Girls Club, with assistance from Arizona Gym Floors, comes roughly a month after the 10-year anniversary of Stewart’s death in the line of duty at 24 years old.

Less than a year into his tenure with the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD), Stewart was shot and killed in the line of duty while investigating a domestic violence situation in the La Plaza Vieja neighborhood Dec. 27, 2014.

“I think the legacy is the key. When we think of it, it was a tragedy,� said FPD Lt. Charles Hernandez. “But we’re turning the tragedy into a celebration of who Tyler Stewart was in the community and who he was as a person outside of the uniform. A lot of times, it’s difficult to separate the two, but a lot of people who didn’t know Tyler may not know he tore it up on the basketball court.�

Joined by Stewart’s father Frank Stewart and mother Lin Stewart, as well as fellow Tyler Stewart Foundation Board members Justin Young, Jessica Young and Hernandez, foundation president Drew Emanuel spoke to those assembled in the gym as part of the ceremony.

Founded in 2015, the foundation’s mission has been “supporting the frontline,� Emanuel explained, working to support families of police officers who suffer tragedies.

Expanding in the years since, the foundation’s outreach now offers scholarships for children, assists in the Northern Arizona Law Enforcement Toy Drive and provides community assistance among other ventures.

In recent years, the foundation has held the Ty-One-On Jackpot Barrel Racing Series and the Tyler Stewart Memorial Charity Annual Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for Sept. 13, 2025, at Continental Country Club.

“Seeing our charity’s logo on the court for all these kids to run all over, dribble all over, slide all over and at some point probably ask a question about what it is,� said Emanuel, who was in the police academy at the time of Stewart’s death and now serves with the FPD. “For them to explain what that logo means is not only giving them knowledge of the memory of Tyler, it’s just allowing his memory to live on -- which is what this charity was founded in the first place.�

A former NAU football player prior to joining the police academy, Emanuel said he’d grown up going to his local Boys and Girls Club in the Valley and felt the logo's placement in a community space served as the perfect opportunity to carry in Stewart’s memory.

For Mark Cox, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff, the logo’s presence in the club will serve as a reminder of Stewart’s legacy -- one that includes a passion for sports, in particular basketball as a passionate fan of the Phoenix Suns, and “his dedication to helping young people grow and succeed."

“It represents hope, inspiration and the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves,� Cox added. “For the kids, it symbolizes the support they have from a community that cares, and it motivates them to push themselves in their pursuits, whether it's sports, education or personal growth.�

The venue is also close to Hernandez’s heart, as the present-day Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff was then known as the Cogdill Recreation Center when he grew up in the City of Flagstaff.

“For me personally, the Boys and Girls Club has been a staple in this neighborhood since I grew up in this neighborhood,� Hernandez said. “To have a memorial or some representation of selfless service like Tyler Stewart in the community is huge and immense for not only myself, but our community, the police department and the charity. I approached them with this concept, and it was a no-brainer. Everyone was an instant yes.�