L.C. Smith, a longtime Arkansas police officer nicknamed “Buckshot,” died on Thursday at the age of 95.
Buckshot, Arkansas’s oldest working police officer, retired in 2023 after a 65-year career.
Buckshot spent nearly five decades with the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Camden Police Department, where he retired.
“Buckshot was more than just a colleague, more than a retired police officer; he was a beloved member of our Camden Police Family and a cherished figure in our community,” the Camden Police Department wrote on Facebook. “His dedication, warmth, and unwavering commitment to service made a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Arkansas Officer Tommy Norman met Buckshot in 2021 and described it as one of the greatest honors of his life.
“I learned from Buckshot that the way you treat people in and out of uniform, the way you respect people—whether they are drug dealers or convicts—you don’t judge people,” Norman told CNN in 2021. “You love everyone equally, and at the end of the day, that makes your job as a police officer easier and leaves a lasting impact.”
When Norman realized Buckshot had gone, he took to X, now known as Twitter, to say Arkansas had lost a legend.
“This one hurts!!” Norman said. “The state of Arkansas lost a legend!” Rest in peace, brother! We are praying for Buckshot’s family, friends, and the Camden community.”
Buckshot spent nearly 12 years with the Camden Police Department, where he served as neighborhood watch coordinator. Despite being in his 90s, the beloved police officer performed an eight-hour shift four days a week, patrolling school zones in the morning and accompanying funerals.
Prior to the COVID-19 epidemic, Buckshot attended numerous neighborhood meetings.