Investigator Thomas Jay Smith, Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, Texas

Investigator Thomas Jay Smith

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, Texas

End of Watch Wednesday, September 17, 1997

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Thomas Jay Smith

Investigator Thomas Smith and Lieutenant George Hendrix were killed when their Bell OH-58A helicopter crashed at Kenneth Copeland Airport at 9:30 a.m.

Lieutenant Hendrix was piloting the aircraft, one of two donated to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office by the United States military. Witnesses stated that the helicopter had just taken off when it plummeted straight down. Bystanders pulled both deputies from the wreckage and administered CPR but were unable to save them due to intensive spinal, head, and internal injuries.

Investigator Smith was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for 12 years. He was survived by his wife and children.

Bio

Age 45
Tour 12 years
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Aircraft accident

helicopter crash, investigation

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Most Recent Reflection

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TJ Smith was a true brother and a great Deputy. He was a brother in my masonic lodge and I was an Inspector for several small cities in western Tarrant County and TJ was always there to back me up, sometimes before I knew I would need it. I never asked him, but I figured he heard me over the radio and then always appeared as if from thin air. It was awesome to have TJ show up. I also sadly remember when the SO's office called me to tell me he had just been killed and asked if would I help inform the family. God bless TJ may he Rest in Peace.

Inspector (ret.), Cliff Schaefer
Azle, Lakeside, Lake Worth, and Newark Texas

September 4, 2024