The Shelton Police Department has purchased three Colt M‑4 semi-automatic rifles with money raised from the Sgt. Orville Smith memorial fund.
The rifles will be engraved with “In Memory of Sgt. Smith” and will be secured in patrol cars, according to Chief Joel Hurliman.
Smith died in early July, after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while he directed traffic after a fireworks event.
Smith’s family requested that proceeds from the memorial fund go toward police department equipment purchases.
“As opposed to buying a camera or something electronic that could be out of date the day you open the box, these are meant to be a long-term memorial,” Hurliman said. “It will be something for the City of Shelton, used to protect the public for at least the next 25 years.”
The rifles were delivered last week, and the department still needs to be trained to use them before they go into use, Hurliman said.
The training could be complete by spring, according to Detective Thomas Federowicz, one of three firearms instructors for the department.
Currently the department has older style rifles, but none in patrol cars, Hurliman said.
“With today’s climate of workplace violence and active shooters, it makes sense to have these on patrol,” Hurliman said.
The rifles, with engraving, cost about $1,000 a piece.
Smitty
The rifles are just one of several small memorials to the fallen officer, who was affectionately called “Smitty” by his coworkers and friends.
Bullets from Smitty’s gun, his badge and an old pair of keys to one of the patrol cars he drove now hang in a display case inside the police department
The department will also display a memorial revolver donated by Charter Arms, a revolver manufacturing company located on Canal Street in Shelton.
The revolver is engraved for the 50th anniversary of the American Police Hall of Fame — the original police memorial, Hurliman said.
Smith was recently noted in the American Police Hall of Fame magazine as a fallen officer.
Smith has also been named an American Police Hall of Fame Medal of Honor and Law Enforcement Purple Heart recipient as a result of his on-duty death.
Charter Arms donated a rosewood display case to store the revolver in.
The Memorial Fund
The department will continue to accept donations in Smith’s name to the memorial fund. Hurliman said they hope to purchase at least five rifles, and would also like to purchase some newer shotguns for the department as well.
Checks to support the fund should be made out to the “Sgt. Smith Memorial Special Account.”
Checks can be mailed to the Shelton Police Department, 85 Wheeler St., Shelton, CT 06484.
