Jody Smith and Nick Smarr were best friends their entire lives. They went to school together, graduated together, went to the police academy together. The only difference between the two men is that Smarr became a police officer for the city of Americus, GA and Smith became a campus officer at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA.
They never gave up on each other. On Wednesday, December 7, Smarr responded to a call for a domestic dispute. Though several other police officers would follow behind, Smith chose to back up his friend. When the suspect, a man identified by authorities as Minquell Lembrick, fled, he began firing shots, eventually hitting both in the head.
After firing shots at the suspect, Smarr ran over to Smith and performed CPR, until he was unable to any longer. When the back up officers arrived on the scene, they found the wounded friends slumped over one another.
Smarr passed away shortly thereafter, while Smith was flown to a hospital in Macon, GA where he passed away the following day.
The same Thursday, police received a tip pointing them to the Lembrick's location. After setting up a perimeter, police heard a gunshot. After nearly an hour of trying to coax the suspect out, police entered the home, finding Lembrick dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
These two men are the epitome of what it means to take care of those you love. Not backing down and taking care of them in spite of what it could mean for you. In a world, where police are grouped together and considered the "bad guy," it is outstanding to see men that can rise up. They protect and serve and they protected and served each other.
My prayers are with both the Smarr and Smith families. Though I did not know either, they have an amazing legacy that they have left behind. They will be remembered as men who gave everything for their job, for civilians, and for each other.
These are the men the next generation should be looking up to.
