Officer Smith remembered by thousands in funeral service

Thousands of Columbus residents and police officers from around the state came to the St. Paul Catholic Church in Westerville to pay tribute to SWAT Officer Steven Smith, who was killed in the line of duty during a standoff in Clintonville.

Over a thousand filled the church, with hundreds more sitting outside in two overflow areas.

His colleagues tearfully eulogized him, with Columbus Police Chief Kim Davis saying, “He will be remembered eternally as a hero.”

Tributes included a volley of shots from seven rifles, music from the Columbus Police and Fire Pipes and Drum Corps and a helicopter flyover.

During his 27-year career, Smith served as a helicopter pilot, a SWAT sniper and a member of the dive team, among other roles.

According to the President for the Fraternal Order of Police, Smith could have retired two years ago, but he loved his work and decided to stay on the force.

A family man, a warrior and a model officer, Smith will always be remembered by his friends and family, and Columbus at-large, as a protector and an exemplary member of the community.

4/18/16: Columbus communities rally around fallen officer

In the wake of officer Steve Smith’s death, Columbus has rallied around him, with hundreds coming out to line the streets and pay their respects to his service over the course of the last week.

During his “Heroes Escort” through downtown Columbus, residents lined the streets in silence as his body passed.

An unknown man got out of his car and played “Taps” in front of the Columbus Police Department, giving a salute a gesture of respect.

In addition, two New York Police Department officers will be coming to Columbus in uniform to support him and his family. They are part of The Brotherhood for the Fallen, an organization of almost 600 NYPD officers who attend the funerals of every officer in the country killed in the line of duty.

Visitation will be held today at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church from 4 to 8 p.m. following a procession from downtown Columbus to the church, which begins at 1 p.m.

The funeral will be held tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.

4/14/16: Fallen officer Smith given ‘Heroes Escort’ through downtown Columbus

SWAT officer Steve Smith was given a “Heroes Escort” today through downtown Columbus, with dozens of police vehicles following the SWAT vehicle that contained Smith’s body.

The procession stretched for several blocks as Columbus residents lined the streets to pay their respects to the fallen officer, who was killed in a shootout in Clintonville last weekend.

As his body travelled through the city, past the Statehouse, City Hall, and the Columbus Police Headquarters, large crowds were completely silent in respect for Smith’s service.

4/13/16: SWAT officer Steve Smith dies in the line of duty

Columbus SWAT officer Steve Smith died yesterday after sustaining a gunshot wound during a standoff with a suspect in Clintonville.

A 27-year veteran of the force, Smith is survived by his wife of 32 years, Lisa Smith, and his two adult children.

His shooter, Lincoln Rutledge, appeared in court yesterday, where he was denied bond.

Smith is remembered by his friends and colleagues as a giving man and a provider, a model officer who was highly-trained and respected.

Officer Kevin Wheeler, a close friend of Smith, says he would get the job done no matter what, and he was the kind of officer you would want by your side in the field.

Police departments around the country took to social media yesterday to pay their respects to the fallen officer.

4/12/16: Clintonville shooter denied bond after wounding SWAT officer

In a rare judicial decision, the man who shot a SWAT officer late Saturday night was denied bond because he is considered a clear safety risk to the community.

Lincoln Rutledge, 44, does not a criminal past, but he is currently suffering mental issues, as evidenced by this weekend’s arson and shooting.

Sadly, what began as a case of felonious assault is likely to turn into a homicide case. Steven Smith, the 27-year SWAT veteran who was wounded, remains in critical condition and is not expected to survive, according to court officials.

Officer Smith was in the turret of a SWAT vehicle when he was hit with a bullet officials have called “one in a million.”

He was previously wounded in the line of duty during a shootout at Easton with murder suspect Danny Thornton, when he was hit by shrapnel during exchange of gunfire. He was subsequently awarded a Blue Star and a Distinguished Service Medal.

Officer Smith, 54, is married with two adult children.

4/11/16: Clintonville shootout leaves SWAT officer in critical condition

When a Columbus Police Department SWAT team was called late Saturday night to issue a felony arson warrant to a suspect, he turned the arrest into a standoff.

Lincoln Rutledge, 44, barricaded himself into a building on North High Street near California Avenue after shooting a SWAT officer.

The officer has since been identified as Steven Smith, a 27-year veteran of the force who remains in critical condition at OSU Medical Center.

At some point during the standoff, Rutledge set fire to the building he was holed up in.

After a lengthy standoff, Rutledge eventually came out of the building at 7:15 a.m., where he was taken to a hospital and treated for smoke inhalation and a gunshot wound. He faces charges of felonious assault and aggravated arson, and will be taken to the Franklin County Jail after he is discharged from the hospital.

Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs spoke highly of Smith, saying he was well-respected and always had a smile on his face.

Local business Traxler Tees designed a T-shirt to support the injured officer, which has already generated over $2,500 for the Columbus Fraternal Order of Police. All proceeds will be given to charity.

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