Michael R. King and Richard W. Smith Jr. were the last Albuquerque police officers to pay the ultimate sacrifice
Mayor Richard J. Berry and Police Chief Raymond D. Schultz honored on Friday the last Albuquerque Police officers to be killed in the line of duty.
And in doing so, Chief Schultz announced that the annual memorial service recognizing Richard Smith and Michael King would no longer be held at Gold and Ash SW - the site they were tragically killed at seven years ago when they were responding to a mental health pickup order.
Instead, the officers will now be honored every year at the building that bears their name – the Michael R. King/Richard W. Smith Jr. Memorial Substation near Coors and Ellison. The station was opened in May 2011 to help address Albuquerque’s growing West Side. Friday’s service was the first time it was held at the substation.
“Having the service at Gold and Ash was too tough for the families and the officers who knew Mike and Rich,” Chief Schultz said. “Instead of looking to the past we are now looking towards the future.”
