Family, APD officers remember last member of the “Big Six” - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Family, APD officers remember last member of the “Big Six”

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Back in 1964, history was made within the Albany Police Department as the first black officers were hired onto the force.

They were known as the "Big Six".

"Dad was just one of those guys who took everything serious. He meant what he said. He was very stern, but yet loving," Said Portia Smith.

Earlier this week, the last surviving member of the Big Six died. 68-year-old Etris Smith passed on Monday. We caught up with Smith's daughter Friday.

"I'm just very proud to have him as a dad and to share that history with him as well before he left this earth," said Smith.

She says her dad loved telling stories. The one that stands out the most is when her dad made more history in Albany by being the first black cop to arrest a white person.

"Daddy made that arrest. Then other guys (white cops) got out of the car and said, 'we'll take it from here'. Daddy said, 'no, you didn't help me fight him, so I'm going to take him in," said Smith.

"He had a lot of wisdom that he shared with me, things to do and what not to do coming up in the ranks," said APD Lieutenant James Williams

Williams wrote newspaper articles about Smith. He says Smith made him a better cop and paved the way for other black officers in Albany.

"We probably wouldn't have had a Chief Washington Long being, the first black Chief, in 1986 or now continuing to have African-Americans moving up," said Lt. Williams.

Smith's daughter says her dad helped improve relations between cops and the community.

"You'll have white officers that will come and speak to you and it's some that'll act like they're your brother. My dad always said just because we're different colors, we still have the same blood," said Smith.

Her dad may be gone but his legacy will never be forgotten.

After his days at APD, Smith went on to make even more history by becoming the first black police chief of Smithville. He retired in 2005 from the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office.

Smith's funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 am at Third Kiokee Baptist Church at 521 Carver Avenue.

 

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