Dallas City Council voted to rename the Dallas Love Field Law Enforcement Building as the Sergeant Michael Smith Law Enforcement Building. The council voted unanimously to rename the building in honor of the Dallas police officer who was killed in deadly attacks on July 7, 2016.
Smith, along with DART Officer Brent Thompson, Dallas Police Officer Michael Krol, Dallas Police Officer Patrick Zamarripa, and Dallas Police Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, were killed on duty in July 2016. These officers were providing security for a peaceful protest against police violence in downtown Dallas when a sniper opened fire on the police officers at the event.
Smith was fifty-five when he was killed. He left his wife and two young girls behind. His brother-in-law called him an “exceptional” father to his daughters.
Sergeant Smith served in the U.S. Army as a Ranger before becoming an officer with the Dallas Police Department. His brother-in-law said he tried to convince Smith to retire, but he decided to stay on the force out of a sense of duty and concern for his fellow officers.
The Wednesday resolution passed by Dallas City Council honors Smith’s dedication to his country and community as an Army Ranger and as a police officer in Dallas’ North Central patrol division and Love Field Unit.
Smith worked with the Dallas Police Department for twenty-eight years. Over the course of his career, he earned more than eighty-six commendations.
According to the resolution passed by the council, the building will be renamed effective immediately.
