VSP STILL PURSUING 1983 HOMICIDE OF FRONT ROYAL POLICE SERGEANT On the morning of Sept. 20, 1983, a Town of Front Royal Police sergeant was shot and killed outside his apartment as he walked to his vehicle. The tragic passing of Dennis Smedley remains the Town of Front Royal Police Department’s only line-of-duty death. It also remains unsolved. On the 30th anniversary of Sgt. Smedley’s death, the Virginia State Police and Town of Front Royal Police are still seeking the public’s assistance with solving this homicide. Dressed in his uniform, Sgt. Smedley, 28, had just left his apartment in the Town of Front Royal. As he was getting into his vehicle, an unknown person approached him from behind and shot the sergeant several times. Before succumbing to his wounds, Sgt. Smedley was able to fire several rounds at his assailant. The unknown assailant fled the scene. “We know someone in the Front Royal community can help us identify this individual, ultimately bringing closure to the Smedley family after 30 long years of suffering,” said Special Agent J.A. Defilippi, Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Culpeper Field Office. “We hope anyone with information about this case who may have been reluctant to come forward in the past will come forward now and tell us what they know.” Over the years, on two separate occasions, two individuals were charged with the murder of Sgt. Smedley. However, both were later acquitted of the charge. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Agent DeFilippi at 540-829-7400 or 1-888-300-0156 or by email at [email protected].
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 13:20:01 +0000
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