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HPD Supervising Lieutenant Lisa Bujnoch
Accepts Award on behalf of Officer Smith
Greg Walker, Esq., ARM, CPP

On the evening of April 5, 2006, members of the multi-agency Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT) were working in southwest Houston when they spotted a vehicle with outstanding city warrants. As they contacted Houston Police Officer Darrell Smith and his partner for assistance in initiating a traffic stop, the suspect began driving erratically in an attempt to evade them. The suspect then stopped the vehicle and formed a makeshift roadblock. As several suspects inside the vehicle began shooting their weapons, the officers reversed their direction to take a defensive position.

When Officer Smith arrived, he quickly assessed the situation, then drove past the officers and into the midst of the shooting. The suspects sped away as they continued to shoot at the officers behind them. Two rounds struck Officer Smith’s vehicle with one having missed the head of his partner by only two inches. Officer Smith determinedly pursued the suspects while swerving back and forth to achieve a desirable angle with which to return fire. Officer Smith’s skills and experience also prevented the suspects from gaining the same advantage.

Shortly afterwards, the driver discarded his weapon and came to a stop. As they arrested the suspects, Officer Smith detected a spent round as it fell from the driver’s clothing. The firearm used in the shooting was also recovered. It was later determined that approximately 25 rounds were fired at the VCIT members and the HPD patrol vehicle. In a recently concluded trial, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to 60 years imprisonment.