DIMANCHE

Former Officer Jeremy Smith has been terminated from the NOPD after the Public Bureau of Investigation sustained Domestic Abuse Battery charges against him, among other wrongdoing. The PBI’s investigation confirmed that in 2010, Smith punched and kicked his wife in the face, sending her running from their home to find help. 

The 33-year-old was an NOPD officer for six years before his dismissal. PBI detectives determined Smith and his wife were the only two people in their house at the time she was injured, proving he was responsible for the attack. Smith is also being dismissed for Untruthfulness after getting his stories crossed. Investigators questioned Smith immediately following the incident, and he admitted that he had struck his wife. However, Smith later retracted his previous statements, telling another detective that he “didn’t know how his wife got hurt,” and that he had never struck her.

Deputy Superintendent Darryl Albert reviewed the case and conducted a hearing in which Smith was able to provide testimony. Albert determined that Smith had committed Domestic Battery, violating both the Department’s Moral and Professional Conduct policies. Smith also broke the NOPD’s Truthfulness policy when he lied to officers about his actions.  Superintendent Ronal Serpas dismissed Smith and made a public statement condemning his behavior.

“This department is unforgiving when an investigation proves an officer has committed something as inexcusable as domestic battery, and then proceeds to lie to detectives about it,” said Serpas. “Let me be clear: such behavior will not be tolerated on this police force,” the Chief continued.

Serpas also reinforced that NOPD officers “represent integrity and human decency,” and that only those who exemplified such values would be allowed to serve in the organization.