The Arkansas House of Representatives voted unanimously Wednesday to honor a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty earlier this month in Johnson County.
Sonny Smith, a 42-year-old reserve deputy with the Johnson County sheriff's office, was pursuing a burglary suspect when he was fatally shot May 15.
Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran who also worked as a security officer at Arkansas Nuclear One, died on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, an observance during National Police Week honoring officers killed while serving.
"It would be easy and I'm sure most of would lay down our lives for those that we love," said Rep. Betty Overbey, D-Lamar and the sponsor of the resolution. "But to do this for strangers — that would be hard. Sonny Smith showed this kind of love not only in his work, but in his life. His love was evidenced in the way he lived and the way he served."
The House voice-voted on the resolution, which notes that the House is honoring "the memory of Deputy Sonny Smith and extend[ing] its sincere condolences" to his family.
Overbey said a memorial service for Smith is set for Wednesday afternoon. And she told legislators that friends and family were watching the House's live feed to see the resolution vote.
"There will be one empty seat in the pew behind George and I Sunday morning at First United Methodist Church in Clarksville," Overbey said. "But I find comfort knowing that there's another angel in heaven."
Fred Kauffeld, 51, was arrested in Smith's death. He faces a charge of capital murder.