Anaheim mourns officer killed in Iraq

Anaheim police officers mourned the loss of one of their own Monday when they received word reserve officer Edward Smith, a 1st sergeant in the Marine Corps, was killed in fighting outside SMITH Basra, Iraq. City flags are flying at half-staff this week to honor Smith, 38, who joined Anaheim's reserve ranks in 1999. Smith had hoped to retire from the military this summer and spend the rest of his professional career with the Anaheim Police Department. But all military retirements were cancelled and Smith was sent to the Middle East. Sgt. Greg Palmer, president of the Anaheim Police Association. Smith as respectful and confide" He was a good reserve officer, he was a good Marine," he said. "And he was a good husband and a good father." Smith leaves behind his wife Sandy and their three children, Nathan, 12, Ryan, 9 and Shelby, 8. The family lives in Vista, near Camp Pendleton. He was deployed with the 2nd Tank BattaUon, Fox Company, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, with whom he led a company of more than 200 Marines. He was killed in a firefight outside Basra on Friday, where he died of a head wound, according to Marine officials. A decorated reserve officer. Smith was named "Top Cop" from his graduating class in the Palomar Police Academy. He also was named Reserve Rookie of the Year for the in 2000 and the Orange County Reserve Officer of the Year in 2001. Smith also received honors in his 20-plus years as a Marine, including the Navy Commendation Medal, two Navy Achievement medals and the Honor Graduate award from his non-commissioned officer training course. Officer Bill Moss in the department's community polio- member him as verying division said officers re- professional policeman. "He was just a very hard-working man," he said. Sgt. Jerry Blair of the department's gang unit described him as extremely friendly. "He's the nicest guy in the world but my immediate impression in the first time I met him was extremely professional and personable," he said. Smith, a member of the SWAT team, was also a member of the Marine's Special Operations unit and fellow officers said he was well-known at Camp Pendleton. "Anytime one of our (SWAT) teams was down there training and mentioned Smith's name everybody jumped," said Jay Poland, a pilot in the department's helicopter program. The city is offering all Anaheim employees the option of cashing out a chosen portion of their vacation time and donating the proceeds to the Smith family. Smith submitted his retirement paperwork in January, shortly afterward the secretary of the Navy cancelled all retirements and he was sent to the Middle East on Jan. 31. Funeral arrangements are pending, but Smith's body has been returned to the East Coast, said Tony Toliver, Smith's brother-in-law. A memory book was placed in the Police Department lobby near a portrait of Smith. Fellow officers also covered their badges with black tape in his memory.