By Warren Peper
lsausser@postandcourier.com
Smithâs fellow officers worked extra shifts to fund a retrofitted vehicle Smith could drive himself. The police wives auxiliary raised money to renovate Smithâs house to make it wheelchair accessible.
In less than a year, Smith returned to the department to work as a dispatcher. In years to come, he would lead the entire Communications Department. He eventually retired in 1987.
Through the years, heâs worn-out more than eight wheelchairs and piled-up the miles on nine different modified vehicles.
Family matters
His grown daughters, Michelle and Melissa, never knew their dad without a wheelchair. âHe was there for everything. Whether for our cheerleading or softball games, he never missed anything we did,â Michelle tearfully recalls.