Over 110 years after his death, fallen Centralia police officer William H. Smith, who was crushed by a train while on duty in December 1910, will be officially recognized at the Washington state Peace Officers Memorial in Olympia on Friday, May 3.
The memorial recognizes members of law enforcement who were killed in the line of duty or who “have distinguished themselves by exceptional meritorious conduct,” according to a news release.
The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. at Evergreen Christian Community, located at 1000 Black Lake Blvd. S. in Olympia.
Smith died on Dec. 23, 1910, at the age of 55, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
The Chehalis Bee-Nugget reported at the time that, “The accident occurred near the crossing by the Eastern Railway and Lumber Company’s office. Smith had walked down the track, and was watching two trains going south. He was standing on the crossing, and he did not notice the backing engine which struck him. Two wheels passed over him, and he was badly mangled.”
Smith is the most-recent of two Centralia police officers who have died while on duty, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The other fallen officer, Marshal James C. A. Parsons, was fatally wounded in a shootout with a disorderly suspect who “made obscene remarks to several children” at a local hotel in June 1903.
Parsons’ name has already been added to the state Peace Officers Memorial.
