| Corporal James Smith
Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario
End of Watch: Wednesday, December 11, 1968 Biographical Info
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 2796 Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, December 11, 1968
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Committed Corporal Smith was stationed at Peterborough at the time of his death. Corporal Smith and Sergeant Lorne Chapitis were both shot while approaching a home where a woman complained to police that a man was threatening to shoot her and her son. They approached the suspect unarmed although he was holding a high powered deer hunting rifle. He said he wanted to talk to the police. When the officers were about 6 feet from the suspect he fired killing both policemen.
Two other officers at the scene apprehended the suspect. The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remains locked up in a mental institution.
Corporal Smith was with the OPP for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and son.
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