Hundreds of close friends, family members and police colleagues gathered in Devonport today to farewell Constable Keith Smith.
The veteran Tasmania Police officer was fatally shot earlier this month while carrying out a routine repossession warrant in the state’s north-west.
His death, at age 57, sparked an outpouring of grief, with more than 500 online tributes and dozens of floral arrangements left outside the Ulverstone Police Station, where he was based.
While the funeral service was reserved for those closest to Constable Smith, it was livestreamed to allow the wider community to pay their respects.
Police Commissioner Donna Adams delivered a heartfelt tribute, saying Smith’s 25-year career was defined by an unwavering commitment to helping others.
“From the very beginning, he was driven by a deep desire to serve the Tasmanian community,” Commissioner Adams said.
“In his application to join Tasmania Police, Keith wrote he hoped to provide meaningful support to individuals while building lasting relationships founded on trust and service.”
Commissioner Adams said those values stayed with him throughout his career, with community members often reaching out to share their gratitude.
“Community members frequently wrote to express their appreciation, recognising his professionalism and composure in difficult circumstances, his compassion and depth of understanding, his empathy, thoroughness and dignity,” Commissioner Adams said.
“Throughout his career, Keith carried himself with quiet professionalism and calm resolve. He made a real difference in the lives of everyday Tasmanians.”
Inspector Andrew Hanson, who first worked with Smith as a new constable in the early 2000s and later supervised him at Ulverstone, said Smith embodied the best of what policing could be.
“Put simply, Keith was really almost a living definition of what it means to be kind, what it means to be caring and what it means to be gentle,” Inspector Hanson said.
“Keith always had a smile on his face and many of us don’t ever recall seeing him being angry or letting the job get to him.”
Sergeant Josh Hayes, who partnered with Smith for two years, remembered an officer who consistently turned challenging situations around with empathy and patience.
“Keith never played the bad cop, he couldn’t. He was always the good cop and most of the time he brought his partners up to be the good cop too,” Hayes said.
“If anyone had the need to call or interact with the police they were the luckiest members of society if they had Constable Keith Smith respond.”
Constable Smith’s wife Janaha and daughter Ava said they are still coming to terms with the loss.
In a statement after the service, the family thanked the Tasmanian public for their kindness and support.
“We are deeply proud of Keith – of his service, his dedication and the values he upheld throughout his career,” the family said.
“His commitment to protecting and serving the community will always be a source of pride and inspiration to us.”
“We are sincerely grateful for the support, compassion and respect shown to our family during this time. It has brought some comfort in the midst of our immense grief.”
The service ended with a full guard of honour and a police procession through the streets of Devonport.
“We are privileged to have served alongside him,” Commissioner Adams said.
