Officer Smith was hired by the Bibb County Board of Education’s Campus Police Department in November  1982.  He became certified in law enforcement on April 10 1979, and had previously worked with the Macon Police Department, the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department as a certified Emergency Medical Technician, and the Duval County Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville, Georgia. He was also a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam. Officer Smith was dedicated to the Campus Police Department, but more so was he dedicated to those students and those teachers, and the rest of the staff at Central High School.  He cared about those individuals and he was there to protect their welfare. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him.

On Friday, April 22, 1983, Office Smith approached a a pedestrian who was walking through campus. The pedestrian pulled a gun and shot Smith. Officer Smith died on the way to the hospital, ending his watch.

In November 2013 the Bibb County Campus Police Department headquarters was renamed in his honor.