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Police Sweep Apartments Where Officer Was Shot Officers issue criminal trespass warnings to non-residents

Updated 9:32 PM CDT, Wed, Jan 7, 2009

Related Topics: Shootings

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Police said another officer was shot 11 years ago at the same apartment complex where a Dallas police officer was shot and killed Tuesday night.

Police Sweep Apartments Where Officer Was Shot

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Police sweep the apartment complex where a Dallas police officer was shot and killed Tuesday night.

Remembering the "White Russian"

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Fellow officers pay tribute to the man affectionately known on the streets as the "White Russian."

Remembering Sr. Cpl. Norm Smith

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Dallas police remember Sr. Cpl. Norm Smith and his love for his wife Lt. Regina Smith.

Dallas Police Officer Shot, Killed

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A Dallas police officer was fatally shot while serving a felony warrant.

Senior Cpl. Norman Smith was shot in the face at the Oak Wood Place Apartments off Loop 12 near Interstate 45 shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday while he tried to serve a felony warrant.

Dallas police swarmed the complex Wednesday to issue people who did not live there criminal trespass warnings. Police arrested several people, including some apartment residents, on outstanding warrants.

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"I think it's a good thing," resident Janice Watkins said.

But residents said the move should have come sooner.

"Honestly, it took a police officer to get killed for them to actually do something about it," Porsha Fischer said.

Porsha Fischer lives right across from the doorway where Smith was gunned down.

"I have a newborn baby -- she's 5 weeks old -- and I don't plan on raising her over here," she said. "It's too dangerous."

Smith was one of several officers with the gang unit who were attempting to serve a felony warrant for aggravated assault to a man wanted in Arlington.

Police said an officer was also shot at the apartment complex, then known by a different name, in 1998. Residents had similar complaints about crime at the complex at the time of that shooting.

The officer survived the shooting.

City Council members, who offered condolences to Smith's family, said the complex should have done more to keep out trouble.

Councilwoman Vonciel Hill said it was "unacceptable to have that kind of a blight" in a good neighborhood.

"If the managers and the owners cannot get rid of the thugs and the hoodlums, then I will do everything legally possible to shut you down," she said.

Deputy Chief Sherryl Scott said the apartment complex has made some efforts but could do more.

"They can also do more, but we can too, and we're out here doing some," she said.

The apartment manager, who did not want to be identified, said she has been trying to root out troublemakers.

Comments (20)

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  • Miss V Saturday, Jan 10 at 9:44 AM FLAG COMMENT i did not know officer smith but i see he was a very good person in heart, i see he made changes in a alot of people's life. my prayes go out to his family, keep your head up and be strong. this is the only officer in my life time that really touched my heart.
  • Darryl Saturday, Jan 10 at 7:17 AM FLAG COMMENT This is to Angela, this crime has nothing to do with race, stop playing the race card evrytime one if the ignorant thugs do things like this to an inncoent person. This boy has taken a father a husband and a son for no reason except ignorance.There are white people that are sentenced to death and prison everyday. So with this said stop making excuses for the thugs that wish to live like this.
  • Crescent Friday, Jan 9 at 6:32 PM FLAG COMMENT My thoughts and prayers are with the family of CPL Smith. May God give his family comfort during this very painful time. Although i didn't know him I am truly thankful for the hard work he and the men and women in blue do on daily basis trying to keep us safe. This was a very sensless loss and I am very sad because he was doing his job and loved what he did. It was sad yesterday to see him on the First 48 Hrs and know that he ... MORE >
  • wuzup Friday, Jan 9 at 10:37 AM FLAG COMMENT The fallen Officer was on 48hrs. last night..
  • Lynn Friday, Jan 9 at 12:09 AM FLAG COMMENT I was raise in that area...we would get or house broken it to at least 3 time a year..I moved out but my sis and bro still stay there..and they said nothing has change...someone broke in the other day in brood daylight w/ his fiance in there and choked her till she past out...they are gonna sell

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