Officer Jillian M. Smith proudly served on the Arlington Police Department for 10 months, fulfilling her lifelong aspiration to “catch the bad guys.” She graduated from Juan Sequin High School in 2005 and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2009. On August 20, 2010 she graduated from the Arlington Police Academy and began serving her community.

The youngest of two daughters, “Jill-Jill,” as she was known by friends and family, was a devoted member of the community and choir at Mount Olive Baptist Church. She treasured time with her family, friends and special nephew, Cameron, whom she referred to as her “Big Ole Baby Boy.” She took pleasure in cooking and shopping with her sister, Jessica, and her mother. Officer Smith may have been one of the bravest in her community, but to her parents she was “Daddy’s Baby” and “Mom’s Personal Taxi.”

On December 28, 2010, Officer Jillian Smith valiantly gave her life after responding to an apartment for a domestic dispute after the suspect had left the location. When the suspect returned, Officer Smith placed herself between the suspect and a child at the location, and was fatally wounded when the suspect began shooting. She is survived by her loving parents, Doug and Sonya; her sister, Jessica; and her special nephew, Cameron.