Shelton Police Department

Service, Professionalism, Dedicated to Duty

 

In Memorial

Sergeant Orville "Smitty" Smith

Died: July 7, 2010

Sergeant Orville Smith died from injuries he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle operated by an intoxicated driver.

Sergeant Smith was working a traffic detail on Route 110 at the intersection of Indian Well Road. He was standing next to his patrol car when he and his patrol car were struck by a Nissan Frontier pickup truck operated by an intoxicated driver. Sergeant Smith was taken to Bridgeport Hospital where he died from his injuries four days later.

The driver of the pick-up truck was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. He faces additional charges related to the death of Sergeant Smith.

Sergeant Smith had served with the Shelton Police Department for 39 years. He was United States Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War and also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Shelton Fire Department White Hills Co. No. 5.

Sergeant Smith is survived by his wife.

 

Officer William F. Rich

Died: 12/27/1964

Officer William F. Rich was a 25-year veteran of the Shelton Police Department. On the night of December 27, 1964, Officer Rich responded with a rookie patrol officer to a bar fight. It turned out that a local woman was in the bar with a man, other than her husband. When her husband came in and found her there, he started a fight with her companion, pulling a knife. The suspect was disarmed by Officer Rich and his partner, Officer Donald Thompson, and was brought to the department and booked. As Officer Thompson approached the cellblock area, the suspect knocked the Officer Thompson down and ran out of the station.

Officer Rich pursued the suspect on foot, when witnesses observed Officer Rich stopping and clutching his chest. Officer Rich then commandeered a passing taxi and he and the driver found the suspect and captured the suspect. The suspect was brought back to the station, and Officer Rich had just placed the suspect in lock up, when he collapsed and died from a massive heart attack.