Charlotte Police Officer Robert L. Smith Park

The City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County 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 some as Paw Creek, and the area is rapidly changing.

Due partly to the success of The River District and the nearby 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 Paw Creek greenway project.

The artist rendering of the property is awesome.

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

While 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 are 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, FOP 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 complete the simple task of replacing the photo.

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. 

CP has also offered to help with the replacement of the photo covered with plastic with perhaps a stainless steel "etched" photo or even a bronze cast image. 

Thankfully on Thursday morning CP was hearing via the "back channel" CMPD Chief Estella D. Patterson had been made aware of the photo and the repair will be handled.

Additionally CP also heard from Mecklenburg Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell who as also expressed her concern.

Additional Background.

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.

Cedar Update:

I want to thank a number of people working to address this issue. My hope that someone within CMPD, Meck County, FOP Lodge 9 will step up and fix this Officer's memorial. More ASAP.