In the presence of Gov. Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and a packed church of law enforcement personnel from across Washington state, fallen Centralia Police Officer William Smith and two other fallen officers were recognized Friday, May 3 for their service.
Smith, who was fatally struck by a train on Dec. 23, 1910, was one of three fallen officers whose names were added to the Washington state Peace Officers Memorial in Olympia following the Behind the Badge Foundation’s annual Peace Officers Memorial and Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony in Olympia on Friday.
The other two officers were William M. Williams Sr., of the Tulalip Tribal Police Department, who went missing while patrolling on July 15, 1965, and was later found drowned; and Raymond J. Gutierrez, of Hanford Patrol, who contracted COVID-19 while performing his duties and died Oct. 3, 2021.
“It is imperative we recognize the significance of remembering those who have given everything, even if it’s not until years, decades or even a century later,” Centralia Police Department Volunteer Coordinator Naomi Hursh said at the ceremony, which was held at Evergreen Christian Community in Olympia this year due to ongoing construction at the memorial site on the Capitol grounds.
During Friday’s ceremony, Inslee read aloud a proclamation he signed earlier that day declaring the week of May 12 to May 18 as Law Enforcement Recognition Week.
“I urge all people in our state to join me in the special observance,” Inslee said.
According to the Behind the Badge Foundation, Smith was crossing multiple railroad tracks at a poorly lit crossing in the dead of night when he was struck by a train car that was backing up along the tracks.
“Reports state that Smith was the oldest officer in the department and one of the oldest in the state at the time of his death,” the Behind the Badge Foundation stated, adding that The Tacoma Daily Register reported, “Smith was a veteran of the Civil War and was regarded as one of the nerviest men among officers of Lewis County. He was small in stature but of great physical strength and courage."
His age was inconsistently reported in various online sources.
He was survived by his wife and 20-year-old daughter.
Smith’s name was not submitted for inclusion on the Washington state Peace Officers Memorial when the Behind the Badge Foundation erected it about 30 years ago, “which is not uncommon for historical death,” Behind the Badge Foundation Director of Programs and Services Meg DiBucci said in an email to The Chronicle.
“As historical deaths become known, they can be submitted for consideration for inclusion. In the case of Officer Smith, an individual noted he was not included and brought it to the attention of the agency, and subsequently to (Behind the Badge Foundation),” DiBucci said.
No officer deaths from 2023 were submitted for inclusion on the memorial this year, Puyallup Chief of Police Scott Engel said during Friday’s ceremony.
“We are thankful for our officers and their actions. We are thankful for no new names from 2023, and we remember, we honor and never forget each and every name inscribed on our memorial wall here in Olympia,” Engel said.
The Behind the Badge Foundation began as a small group of people who, about 30 years ago, “Decided that it was time that Washington state had a fitting monument to its fallen officers,” said Behind the Badge Foundation Executive Director Brian Johnston. “We’ve moved to many, many, many attributes that we are able to support our fallen officers, their families and our officers that are currently serving, but core to our mission has always been the Washington state Law Enforcement Memorial. The names on it, inscribed, ensures that their stories and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
The memorial wall is located on Washington state Capitol campus in the shadow of the Temple of Justice and facing north to Heritage Park and Puget Sound.
