National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Sergeant

Memorial Panel: 52-W: 27

Department: Torrance County, New Mexico, S.O.

End of Watch: January 20, 2009

Cause: STRU

Age: 30

Years of Service: 7

Description: Sergeant Smith succumbed to injuries sustained the previous evening when he was struck by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop. Sergeant Smith and his partner had pulled a suspect vehicle over on I-40 as part of a narcotics search warrant. Sergeant Smith was photographing the suspect vehicle when he was struck by a passing vehicle. Sergeant Smith was airlifted to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries early the next day. The three police vehicles and the tow truck at the investigation site had their emergency lights activated when Sergeant Smith was struck. A fellow officer in an orange reflective vest attempted to slow down the vehicle that struck Sergeant Smith, but was unsuccessful.