INDEPENDENCE Hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the state and elsewhere saluted Friday as they filed past the flag-draped casket of Iowa State
lower in this article
Family, friends and community members celebrated the life of Iowa State Trooper Sgt. Jim Smith at his funeral Friday at Independence Community High School.
Among the speakers were current and former pastors from his church, Jesup Bible Fellowship, along with fellow law enforcement officers. Our faith teaches us that in our suffering God is with us, Iowa State Patrol Col. Nathan Fulk said during the service. Jim s priorities were faith, family and his commitment to public service in his community. We re hurting but we re not broken. We are struggling but we re not lost. We re deeply saddened but we will work to find peace in the days ahead.
Watch live at 10 a.m.: Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith s funeral at Independence Community High School Des Moines Register
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Funeral services for an Iowa State Patrol trooper shot and killed last week during a standoff with an armed Grundy Center man will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Independence Community High School.
Sgt. Jim Smith, three other State Patrol troopers and a Hardin County Sheriff s Deputy K-9 unit attempted to arrest Michael Thomas Lang, 41, in Lang s Grundy Center home at 8:55 p.m. April 9. As they attempted to clear the home, Smith was hit by gunfire and was killed.
Smith was a 27-year ISP veteran who was shot and killed April 9 during a standoff in Grundy Center. HIs funeral is being held at Independence Community High School.
Watch: Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Smith s funeral at Independence Community High School Des Moines Register
Replay Video UP NEXT
Funeral services for an Iowa State Patrol trooper shot and killed last week during a standoff with an armed Grundy Center man were held at 10 a.m. Friday at Independence Community High School.
Sgt. Jim Smith, three other State Patrol troopers and a Hardin County Sheriff s Deputy K-9 unit attempted to arrest Michael Thomas Lang, 41, in Lang s Grundy Center home at 8:55 p.m. April 9. As they attempted to clear the home, Smith was hit by gunfire and was killed.
Smith, 51, had been a trooper for 27 years and was stationed at the State Patrol s Oelwein post north of Independence since 1996. The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, in a 2018 Iowa State Patrol member spotlight, said he led a tactical team, was a positive and consistent worker, and was well-known in his community, volunteering at school, church and community events.