Valley Independent Sentinel

A Reporter Remembers Shelton’s Sgt. ‘Smitty’

by Joanne M. Pelton | Jul 7, 2010 4:09 pm

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Posted to: Shelton

What a tragic end to such a wonderful life.

It’s so sad that a guy like Sgt. Orville “Smitty” Smith was struck by an alleged drunk driver while directing traffic on Route 110.

He was the patrol supervisor during the day shift and as a reporter I would see him driving around when I made my police rounds at the station.

He was always cordial and always tried to help me with stories.

He always stopped to say hello to me when he saw me. Sometimes I had to quote him as president of the police association.

One Smitty-related story:

Three suspects had stolen a tractor-trailer cab. When Smitty showed up they jumped out of a truck and took off on foot. Smitty and another cop were there. They chased the three and caught two.

As they were driving the two back to the station, Smitty noticed the third guy on the side of the road and nabbed him, too.

Being the regular beat reporter covering Shelton police gave me the opportunity to meet some fine police officers like Smitty. They are people I will never forget. They made me feel like part of the Shelton Police Department family.

They have lost a part of that family and my heart goes out to them.

Joanne M. Pelton is a former reporter for the Connecticut Post, New Haven Register and Republican-American.

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