As his proud family stood tall — and his young daughter excitedly played — a detective devoted to clearing the streets of illegal drugs was named Raleigh County’s Officer of the Year for 2006.

The honor was awarded to Detective Cpl. Chuck Smith of the Beckley Police Department posthumously.

Smith was named the Fraternal Order of Police, Black Diamond Lodge No. 81, Officer of the Year for 2006. Smith, a 29-year-old detective for the city’s Narcotics Enforcement Division, was shot and killed Aug. 29, 2006, in the line of duty during an undercover drug operation.

Bill O’Brien, director of Concord University’s Beckley Center and radio show host, noted Smith was the only officer in West Virginia killed in the line of duty last year.

His mother, Sonya “Susie” Smith, addressed the crowd gathered at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center as people across the room could be heard struggling to hold back tears.

“You have no idea how important you all are,” she said to the law enforcement officers gathered. “I wish Chuck could be here, of course.”

She later stroked the Officer of the Year trophy with her son’s name engraved on it. She declined to put it in a box she was given, wanting to hold it.

“I wish he could have received it when he was here,” she said. “He would probably hit the floor knowing he won something like this. He would be in disbelief.

“I hope this is the last time they have to give this to an officer who is unable to attend.”

His father, Charles “Rusty” Smith, noted his son strived to achieve at everything he did — just like he did with his beloved golf game.

“He would be grinning,” the elder Smith said of his son. “He liked to be No. 1. He would be proud to be here and be No. 1.

“It’s a joy and I’m just blessed to have a wonderful kid everyone was so crazy about — not just me. Everyone loved him.”

Both Rusty and Susie Smith praised the Fraternal Order of Police, the event’s organizer, Beckley P.D. Cpl. Paul Blume, and the entire event itself. They believe more events should be held to recognize the work of law enforcement officers who put themselves at risk daily to help their communities — and who are often underappreciated.

Smith’s 15-year-old cousin, Amanda Meadows, said he would be thankful to be rewarded for the hard work he did while he was living. For her, his presence is permanent.

“I believe he’s the angel watching over us,” she said. “His body is just physically gone. ... Every now and then, when you’re sad, you just know that he’s watching over you and everything will be OK.”

Meadows encouraged all law enforcement officers working to clear drugs from the streets to keep fighting, just as Smith did.

Detective Sgt. Gant Montgomery, who worked with Smith daily at the Narcotics Enforcement Division, noted how the entire law enforcement community still misses him.

“He was proud to be a policeman and loved what he did,” Montgomery said. “Personally, I will never let his memory fade away. I will be honored to tell his story. What he was driven to do — that changed my life.”

Each of the nine law enforcement agencies in Raleigh County named a top officer for 2006 within their departments, and these officers were recognized during the banquet. The Officer of the Year was chosen from these nine nominees.

State Supreme Court Justice Elliott “Spike” Maynard was the event’s keynote speaker.

Blume said an event like this is a way to give back to the officers who give so much to their communities.

“They are the best of the best,” he said. “They are out there 24/7 dealing with all kinds of people and all kinds of problems. Most of the time, they are not recognized.”

The eight other officers recognized were:

- Dave Tolliver, West Virginia Division of Corrections.

- Douglas Dyer, Raleigh County Juvenile Probation.

- Senior Trooper Robert Daniel, West Virginia State Police Troop 6, Beckley.

- Patrolman Tim Sweeney, Sophia Police Department.

- Sgt. Edward Vaught, Mabscott Police Department.

- Detective Cpl. Jim Canaday, Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department.

- Cpl. Chris Payne, West Virginia State Police Troop 7, Turnpike Division.

- Officer Woodrow Brogan, Division of Natural Resources.

— E-mail:

apridemore@register-herald.com