Senior Cpl. Norman Smith a veteran Dallas gang-unit officer, was serving a felony warrant at an apartment in the 4900 block of Wadsworth Drive in Dallas, TX, when he knocked on the door about 6:15 p.m. and came under fire almost immediately, police said. Smith joined the department in 1991 and would have marked his 18th year on the force today. Smith had an extensive knowledge of Dallas' gangs and was described by Kunkle as one of the department's finest police officers. Smith's death was believed to be the nation's first fatal shooting of an officer in the line of duty this year. He is the first Dallas officer shot to death in the line of duty since Mark Nix in 2007. Flags were flown at half-staff this morning at Dallas police headquarters. Lt. Sally Lannom, a former member of the gang unit, described Smith as a hard worker who knew his job well and would be sorely missed. Smith was married to Dallas police Lt. Regina Smith. They met when Norman Smith was working at the Dallas County Jail. On Tuesday, Smith and about six other gang-unit officers were in search of a violent felon at the Oak Wood Place Apartments, police said. Smith, flanked by two other officers, approached the door and knocked. Someone inside asked who was there, and Smith responded with a fake name, police officials said. When the suspected gunman opened the door, Smith yelled that they were the police, according to the preliminary investigation. The suspect then tried to close the door, and Smith pushed back. That's when he was shot. Officers returned fire, frantically trying to pull their fallen comrade out of the line of fire as the gunman opened the door and continued shooting. No one else was injured in the gunbattle. The three men inside the apartment surrendered, one at a time, within minutes of the shooting. Built like a middle linebacker, Smith stood well over 6 feet tall and was known to be even-tempered, opinionated and even sentimental. Lannom said she was introduced to her husband by Smith. Lannom said Smith's mother is from Europe, and he spent a portion of his youth there. Before joining the Dallas police, Smith worked as a Kaufman County sheriff's deputy. The Smiths have two teenage children, a boy and a girl. Those who knew the couple well said they enjoyed antiquing, collecting fine china and traveling in their off-hours.
Norman was was raised in England where he attended Royal Duke of York Military Academy in Dover, England. Norman moved to Kaufman, TX in 1980, where he completed his final year of High School. Norman served in the Marine Corps for four years, and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1991, where he served as a patrol officer at the Southeast Patrol Division. From there Norman joined the Gang Unit, where he worked for 14 years. Norman leaves behind his loving wife Regina L. Smith, daughter Clenique L. Williams, son Karlis Smith, mother Carolyn Long, stepfather Dana Long, sister Michelle Fitzgerald, granddaughter Marich, niece Charlotte, nephew Thomas, and a host of family and friends.
Norman was was raised in England where he attended Royal Duke of York Military Academy in Dover, England. Norman moved to Kaufman, TX in 1980, where he completed his final year of High School. Norman served in the Marine Corps for four years, and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1991, where he served as a patrol officer at the Southeast Patrol Division. From there Norman joined the Gang Unit, where he worked for 14 years. Norman leaves behind his loving wife Regina L. Smith, daughter Clenique L. Williams, son Karlis Smith, mother Carolyn Long, stepfather Dana Long, sister Michelle Fitzgerald, granddaughter Marich, niece Charlotte, nephew Thomas, and a host of family and friends.
Senior Cpl. Norman Smith a veteran Dallas gang-unit officer, was serving a felony warrant at an apartment in the 4900 block of Wadsworth Drive in Dallas, TX, when he knocked on the door about 6:15 p.m. and came under fire almost immediately, police said. Smith joined the department in 1991 and would have marked his 18th year on the force today. Smith had an extensive knowledge of Dallas' gangs and was described by Kunkle as one of the department's finest police officers. Smith's death was believed to be the nation's first fatal shooting of an officer in the line of duty this year. He is the first Dallas officer shot to death in the line of duty since Mark Nix in 2007. Flags were flown at half-staff this morning at Dallas police headquarters. Lt. Sally Lannom, a former member of the gang unit, described Smith as a hard worker who knew his job well and would be sorely missed. Smith was married to Dallas police Lt. Regina Smith. They met when Norman Smith was working at the Dallas County Jail. On Tuesday, Smith and about six other gang-unit officers were in search of a violent felon at the Oak Wood Place Apartments, police said. Smith, flanked by two other officers, approached the door and knocked. Someone inside asked who was there, and Smith responded with a fake name, police officials said. When the suspected gunman opened the door, Smith yelled that they were the police, according to the preliminary investigation. The suspect then tried to close the door, and Smith pushed back. That's when he was shot. Officers returned fire, frantically trying to pull their fallen comrade out of the line of fire as the gunman opened the door and continued shooting. No one else was injured in the gunbattle. The three men inside the apartment surrendered, one at a time, within minutes of the shooting. Built like a middle linebacker, Smith stood well over 6 feet tall and was known to be even-tempered, opinionated and even sentimental. Lannom said she was introduced to her husband by Smith. Lannom said Smith's mother is from Europe, and he spent a portion of his youth there. Before joining the Dallas police, Smith worked as a Kaufman County sheriff's deputy. The Smiths have two teenage children, a boy and a girl. Those who knew the couple well said they enjoyed antiquing, collecting fine china and traveling in their off-hours.
Norman was was raised in England where he attended Royal Duke of York Military Academy in Dover, England. Norman moved to Kaufman, TX in 1980, where he completed his final year of High School. Norman served in the Marine Corps for four years, and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1991, where he served as a patrol officer at the Southeast Patrol Division. From there Norman joined the Gang Unit, where he worked for 14 years. Norman leaves behind his loving wife Regina L. Smith, daughter Clenique L. Williams, son Karlis Smith, mother Carolyn Long, stepfather Dana Long, sister Michelle Fitzgerald, granddaughter Marich, niece Charlotte, nephew Thomas, and a host of family and friends.
Norman was was raised in England where he attended Royal Duke of York Military Academy in Dover, England. Norman moved to Kaufman, TX in 1980, where he completed his final year of High School. Norman served in the Marine Corps for four years, and joined the Dallas Police Department in 1991, where he served as a patrol officer at the Southeast Patrol Division. From there Norman joined the Gang Unit, where he worked for 14 years. Norman leaves behind his loving wife Regina L. Smith, daughter Clenique L. Williams, son Karlis Smith, mother Carolyn Long, stepfather Dana Long, sister Michelle Fitzgerald, granddaughter Marich, niece Charlotte, nephew Thomas, and a host of family and friends.
