Slain Dallas Officer Laid to Rest
Updated 9:10 PM CST, Fri, Jan 9, 2009
Thousands of people attended the funeral of slain Dallas police officer Sr. Cpl. Norm Smith on Friday, nearly filling Dallas' popular megachurch The Potter's House.
The funeral began at 11 a.m. and lasted until just after 1 p.m., where family, friends and coworkers, including Pastor Rickie Rush of the Inspiring Body of Christ Church, memorialized the fallen officer while remembering his life and those he impacted.
A procession of hundreds of police cars and motorcycles will carry Smith to Restland Memorial Park where he will be interred.
Smith is survived by his wife, Dallas police Lt. Regina Smith. The couple were married for 18 years.
The highly decorated officer was assigned to the department's elite gang unit. He was shot and killed Tuesday night while trying to serve a felony warrant at an Oak Cliff apartment complex.
Smith was acting on a tip from an informant at the end of a 12-hour workday when he was shot.
Family and co-workers remembered Smith as tireless crime fighter, a devoted father and a loving husband.
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle told crowd of mourners that Regina Smith was adamant that her husband never show her affection when they were both in uniform.
Smith's fellow officers said they will continue his work, knowing a guardian angel will be watching over them.
An honor guard raised a Flag of Honor to half-staff outside Dallas police headquarters Thursday in memory of Smith. The flag flew over the Texas capitol on Sept. 11 and now travels the country to honor fallen police and firefighters.
The tribute to Smith on his squad car outside police headquarters continued to grow Thursday. The vehicle will be parked outside through Friday.
Smith was the first police officer killed in the line of duty this year.
First Published: Jan 9, 2009 10:00 AM CST
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