Charlotte Police Officer Robert L. Smith Park

Charlotte and CMPD honor our fallen Police Officers in many ways.

One of those is Officer Robert L. Smith - EOW January 15, 1987.

A name and a date many of us were not aware of from nearly forty years ago.

At the time Charlotte was a far different place. City leadership later felt that naming a park in his honor was a just and right thing to do.

The Richard L Smith Park located at 1604 Little Rock Road is in a growing area of Charlotte known by a few as Paw Creek and the area is rapidly changing.

Due partly to the success of the river area and the White Water Center. Suddenly apartments and new homes are popping up everywhere.

In October of last year Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation announced plans to add pickleball courts to the park in addition to the already under construction greenway project.

The artist rendering of the property is awesome.

But notably absent is any mention of the Park's namesake or the small granite memorial and plaque in his honor located at the head of the parking lot. 

However the memorial is not noted on the site plans or artist's rendering of the improvement project. The "existing restrooms" and nearby play ground equipment however were noted.

The small memorial next the restrooms and picnic pavilion is in good shape, yet it could use a cleaning and the photo placed behind a small plastic cover and all but dissolved.

It is a simple memorial and the inscription below his photo written by a 9 year old is simply wonderful.

MY FRIEND ROBERT

ROBERT A GREAT FRIEND I HAD. 

AND WITHOUT HIM IT IS SO SAD.

WHIEN I HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED 

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO 

I KNEW HE STILL HAD A LONG LIFE TO GROW.

IN OUR THOUGHTS HE IS STILL THERE.

SO IN OUT HEARTS WE SHOULD STILL CARE.

ROBERT MADE THIS WORLD SO BRIGHT.

AND WOTHOUT HIM IT IS SUCH A UNHAPPY SIGHT.

BUT JUST THEINK OF IT AS ROBERT GOING AWAY 

AND YOU WILL SEE HIM AGAIN SOMEDAY.

AUTHOR RENEE REIDELL

WITITEN WHEN 9 YEARS OLD

Over the last two weeks CP has reached out to County Commissioners, CMPD and Park and Recreation staff. 

Asking about the park's construction progress both Park and Rec staff and Meck County Commissioners were quick to respond, but my follow up about the Officer Smith Memorial and photo was met with crickets.

I've offered that I have a duplicate photo and would be more than happy to step up to the simple task.

CMPD Officer Robert L. Smith

Privately I'm told that both City and County elected officials and Park and Rec staff are somewhat bothered by the Park's name and apparently believe that the Fallen Officer Memorial Uptown across for the Law Enforcement center is the most suitable place to remember Officer Robert Smith and others.

While there is no formal action to rename the park or remove the memorial apparently they are concerned that my request to replace the faded photo might offend some members of the public. 

Thankfully this morning CP is hearing via the "back channel" CMPD Chief Estella D. Patterson has been made aware of the photo and the repair will be handled.

A longer term solution might be a bronze likeness of his image or a stainless steel etched photo. These suggestions were also offered but no reply.

Police Officer Robert Louis Smith was shot and killed after he and other officers responded to a report of a man firing a gun into a condo complex at 0110 hours.

During the search for the suspect Officer Smith located him and shined his flashlight on him. When he did this the suspect opened fire with a rifle, striking Officer Smith four times. Other officers responded to the sound of the gun shots and returned fire, wounding the suspect.

The 32-year-old man was taken into custody and sentenced to life in prison plus 60 years, were he remains today.

Officer Smith had served with the Charlotte Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and two brothers.

He was off duty when he responded to the call.  Rest Easy Hero.