10-year anniversary of DW Smith death in the line of duty

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) — Ten years ago this Sunday, a death occurred that rocked the Village of Johnson City and its police force.

At 7 a.m. outside of a medical office on Harrison Street, Officer David “D.W.” Smith was shot and killed while still in his patrol car. In his memory, the JC Police Department and its union are determined to ensure that his sacrifice is never forgotten.

D.W. Smith had nearly 19 years on the job and had switched from being a detective to going back on patrol to finish out his time before retiring. Chief Brent Dodge says he loved the village.

“He was born and raised in Johnson City and he was a hard core J.C. boy all the way. He was very dedicated to this community. His parents still lived here, his family members were still here. So, he was very dedicated to Johnson City and the people of Johnson City to making sure that he did his part to serve them and keep them safe,” Dodge said.

PBA President Joshua Bilek had just joined the department 4 months before Smith’s death and was still in the academy at the time. He had done a number of field training ride-alongs with Smith.

“He was very intelligent when it came to police work. He had a lot that he could teach you in the short time that I was with him. He was very light-hearted with things. He took things seriously, but with a light-hearted tone,” Bilek said.

In fact, Smith had a well-earned reputation as police station jokester. Dodge says Smith had him laughing the morning of the shooting as they crossed paths as Dodge was coming off a night shift. “You always knew when he was around because you always heard the booming laughter. He liked to laugh as much as he liked to make other people laugh,” Dodge said.

Memorials to Smith are placed around the village, including dedications of the Arch Street Bridge and a portion of Main Street. There are posters and paintings in tribute to him throughout the station and a shrine in the lobby with a blue light lit 24/7. The PBA was instrumental in helping to donate his former patrol car to the Discovery Center for a Story Garden display. Although the car door was swapped out and the original is held as a memorial at the station which is customary in line-of-duty deaths. The fact that Smith died responding to a so-called “routine” call is not lost on Bilek or his fellow officers.

“Nothing is what we would call ‘routine.’ You never know what could happen. It was a real gut check for me just starting out to say, ‘Was this what you want to do knowing that not only did this happen in the police agency that you’re going to start working for, but it happened in the town that you grew up in, a couple blocks from where you grew up. So, it was a real gut check for me,” Bilek said.

The PBA continues to raise money for a D.W. Memorial Fund which gives a scholarship each year to a Johnson City high school student interested in a career in law enforcement. And officers have remained in contact with Smith’s family to show their support.

“He didn’t lose his life for me or his co-workers. He lost his life trying to help people in Johnson City. I think that is worthy of being memorialized for a very long time,” Dodge said.

Because as every cop on the beat knows, the same could happen to them at any time.

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