Washington – Jeffrey Smith, one of the DC police officers beaten and injured during the capital rebellion on January 6, 2021, the incidents of that day were shocked and replaced, His widow, Erin Smith, says,
Smith told CBS News this week, “The man released on 6 January was not the man who came home in the early hours of January 7.” “He was a separate person. His personality changed. His performance changed. He was there, but the man I knew was not in the same body.”
Smith, 35, died of suicide on January 15, 2021, as he was driving for the first time after a capital riot.
In 2022, Erin Smith filed a case of an incorrect death for an attack and battery against 69-year-old Cairopractor David Walls-Koffman, alleging that she had assaulted her husband during a capital riot.
In January 2023, Walls-Kafman pleaded guilty In connection with the rebellion for a raid, performance, performance and a rape of picketing in “Capital Building”. At that time, he admitted that he had “scuffle” with law enforcement, but did not face any federal attack allegations in the case.
He served a 60 -day jail on the charge of rape. He was one of the hundreds of capital rebels Forgiveness by President Trump In January.
Despite forgiveness, Smith’s trial went to test in June. After a long citizen test and just two -hour discussion, Last week a jury Wals-Koffman ordered that he and her late husband should pay $ 500,000 to the property, finding that Wals-Kaufman attacked Jeffrey Smith on 6 January.
In a statement by CBS News, Walls-Koffman denied the striking Smith and called the trial and verdict “tragic”.
Smith said of the jury’s decision, “It felt like a relief, a relief that all the fighting was worth it, whatever I did, it was worth it, and proves that he was injured.”
After her husband’s death, Smith became an unworthy but influential lawyer. He successfully advocated the Congress to pass a bipartisan law in 2022, so that some police deaths could be nominated as the “official line of duty” from suicide.
In March of that year, the retirement and relief board of Washington police and firefighters Officially ruled Smith’s death was in the line of duty. Body camera footage received by CBS News showed that Jeffrey Smith was a target of several attacks on 6 January. Those images helped Erin Smith change her husband’s designation.
Now, Smith is pressurizing the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington to connect her late husband’s name on her wall and involve an honorary ceremony in next May.
She is also asking the memorial to open eligibility for others, for which it has been officially determined to die from suicide due to job injuries.
Smith said, “It is not for me to get his name there.” “This is also for his family, his friends, his companions, the people of the Metropolitan Police Department, his colleagues. And it is also for other officials who have died of suicide due to injuries that he also met at work.”
If you or someone you know is in an emotional crisis or suicide crisis, you can reach 988 suicide and crisis lifeline By calling or texting 988. You can also do Chat with 988 suicide and crisis lifeline here,
For more information about Mental health care resources and supportThe National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline can be reached on Monday, 10 AM10 PM ET, 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email [email protected] on Monday.
