Sgt. Jim Smith, a 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol, was shot and killed attempting to apprehend a man who barricaded himself inside his home after assaulting another Iowa law enforcement officer.
April 11 (UPI) — An Iowa police officer was killed while attempting to arrest a man who had previously assaulted another officer, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said. Sgt. Jim Smith, a 27-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol, was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend Michael Thomas Lang, who had barricaded himself in his home in Grundy Center on Friday evening, the agency said Saturday. Stephan Bayens, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said in a press conference that Smith «died a hero» and «sacrificed himself protecting others.» «Sgt. Jim Smith was a friend. Sgt. Jim Smith was a brother. Sgt. Jim Smith was a son. Sgt. Jim Smith was a husband. Sgt. Jim Smith was a dad. Sgt. Jim Smith was a protector of the innocent. Sgt. Jim Smith was a guardian of justice. Sgt. Jim Smith was a man of God,» Bayens said. «Sgt. Jim Smith, and I’m going to keep saying his name until his sacrifice has been seared upon the hearts of anyone that can hear my voice.
