Police Officer Charles T. Smith, Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin

Police Officer Charles T. Smith

Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin

End of Watch Wednesday, January 31, 1973

Charles T. Smith

Officers Charles Smith and Gerald Hempe were shot and killed during a traffic stop.

While attempting to arrest the driver of the vehicle, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a bystander who witnessed the stop walked up to the officers and opened fire, striking them both in the neck and head. The bystander had nothing to do with the stop.

The suspect was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on June 12, 1973. He was denied parole in 2010.

Officer Smith had been a member of the Milwaukee Police Department for eight months and had previously served with the United States Navy.

Bio

Age 24
Tour 8 months
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Sentenced to life

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Most Recent Reflection

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To my Uncle Charlie,
I want to thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Ben Sanders should perish behind bars. Killing two officers in the line of duty is despicable. We will never know our Uncle Charlie or his partner because of ‘Ben Sanders. God Bless Uncle Charlie.
To Ben Sanders...... You should Rot in hell, you don’t deserve another chance much less another day on this Earth.
Mark Smith

Mark Smith
Nephew

June 10, 2018