Detroit Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Saturday, November 28, 1987
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: November 10, 1987
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Smith was killed in an automobile accident while assisting other officers during a pursuit of two suspected car thieves at 3:30 a.m. Her patrol car struck a newspaper delivery truck at Lonyo Avenue and Michigan Avenue and burst into flames. Officer Smith and her partner were pinned inside. Responding officers pulled them from the car and rushed them to the burn center at Detroit Receiving Hospital where she died from her wounds 18 days later. Her partner survived.
Officer Smith was a one year veteran of the force. She was survived by her mother and brother.