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Hundreds of police officers are expected to attend the funeral of fallen BART police Det. Sgt. Tommy Smith today along with family members, friends and supporters.
The service for Smith, who lived in San Ramon with his wife and daughter and worked for BART for more than two decades, will be held at 10 a.m. at the Neighborhood Church of Castro Valley, 20600 John Drive. The funeral is open to the public.
A public viewing of Smith, 42, was held Tuesday night in Hayward.
Smith was accidentally shot and killed by a colleague, BART Det. Michael Maes, while the two and other officers were conducting a probation search at a robbery suspect’s apartment at 6450 Dougherty Road in Dublin at about 2 p.m. on Jan. 21.
Maes, who is currently on paid administrative leave, is expected to attend the funeral, BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey told reporters.
“I spoke to Michael over the weekend, and he’ll go to the service,” Rainey said.
BART spokeswoman Luna Salaver said the service will be “pretty packed” because representatives from many Bay Area police departments will attend, as will officers from departments across the nation, including in Boston, Las Vegas and Texas.
Salaver said speakers at the service will include Rainey, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Newark police Officer Patrick Smith, who is one of Smith’s brothers.
There will be a flyover by three California Highway Patrol helicopters after the service, she said.
Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) honored Smith in a statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday.
“I join the Bay Area community in remembering BART Sgt. Tommy Smith. He was a family man, a gentleman, and an inspiration,” Swalwell said. “On the job, he worked honorably every day to protect our community. He will be remembered as a hero not because of how he died, but because of how he lived.”
Those wishing to assist Smith’s family may make deposits to the Tommy Smith Memorial fund at any Wells Fargo bank branch, citing account #5148561086 under the name of Kellie Smith, who is Smith’s widow and a BART police colleague.
The public can also mail donations to the Tommy Smith Memorial Fund, C/O Wells Fargo, 11020 Bollinger Canyon Road, Suite 1, San Ramon, CA 94582.
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