Duty Death: Jody Smith - [Americus]
End of Service: 08/12/2016
By Police1 Staff
AMERICUS, Ga. — The second Georgia police officer who was shot Wednesday responding to a domestic dispute has died from his injuries, officials said.
Charles Patterson, president of Georgia Southwestern State University, said in a statement Thursday evening that campus police Officer Jody Smith died from his injuries. Smith had been airlifted to a hospital after the shootings Wednesday in Americus, about 130 miles south of Atlanta.
Also killed in the attack was Americus police Officer Nicholas Smarr. Fellow officers said the two men had been close friends since boyhood.
Georgia Southwestern State University released the following statement about the passing of Smith:
We have just received word that GSW Public Safety Officer Jody Smith has succumbed to his injuries and has passed away,” said GSW Interim President Charles Patterson. “We offer our deepest condolences to his family during this very difficult time. Officer Smith was a bright, young and energetic officer, and he will be sorely missed.”
Jody Smith was a dedicated law enforcement officer who came to the Georgia Southwestern University Police Department in August Officer Jody Smith2016.
Prior to joining the University force, Smith worked as a deputy sheriff with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in addition to serving as a part-time officer with the Plains Police Department.
Smith was enthusiastic about joining the Georgia Southwestern State University Public Safety Department, as it offered him an opportunity to pursue a college degree and work in law enforcement.
Smith is a 2009 graduate of Americus-Sumter County High School, and he graduated from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Tifton, Ga. in 2012. He is known by his friendly personality and his love for the Atlanta Braves.
Smith and Smarr were both shot by 32-year-old suspect Minquell Lembrick Wednesday. Lembrick was found dead Thursday after a SWAT team stormed a home that was identified as the suspect’s hiding place by a tipster, according to the Associated Press.