Local police plan to attend funeral for slain officer

Local police departments plan to send officers to Columbus for the funeral of Steve Smith, who was shot in the line of duty.

Smith, 54, a member of the Columbus Police Department SWAT team, was shot Sunday while serving an arrest warrant for arson.

Lincoln Rutlegde, 44, fired from an apartment into an armored vehicle and hit Smith, police said. The standoff lasted for several hours until police were finally able to arrest Rutlegde.

Smith succumbed to his injuries Tuesday afternoon.

The Dayton Police Department plans to send a contingent of officers to Smith’s funeral.

“It could be any one of us,” said Lt. Mark Ponichtera. “It has happened 24 times in our community.”

Smith is the 31st officer to be killed in the U.S. this year. He was a 27-year veteran of the Columbus police department and had been injured on while on the job in the past. Smith was shot back in 2013, according to a statement from the Ohio Fraternal Order of police.

Rutledge had his first appearance Tuesday in Franklin County Municipal Court. He is being held without bond on charges of aggravated arson and felonious assault. The judge said there are concerns about a risk to public safety if Rutledge was released. He is accused of setting his estranged wife’s house on fire, officials said.

Rutledge’s former employer, Ohio State University, released a statement saying his I.T. and building access were revoked on March 23, 2016, when he “began to behave erratically while on leave.”

Lt. Joe Wiesman, who is the commander of Dayton’s SWAT team, said they are trained specifically to react to serious situations to prevent people from getting hurt. Unfortunately, anything can happen while officers are in the field.

“You can have the best training and equipment and still have a bad day,” Wiesman said. “This is a difficult time for them, and they need our support.”

Other local police departments have also said they plan to attend Smith’s funeral. For example, Centerville police plan to have up to two officers attend. Kettering police have not determined how many officers will go. All of the local law enforcement agencies will meet at one location and travel to Columbus together.

Smith is survived by his wife of 32 years and two adult children.

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