Georgia Southwestern State building to be named for Nick Smarr, Jody Smith

AMERICUS — Slain Americus police officers Nick Smarr and Jody Smith will be memorialized on the building that is home to Georgia Southwestern State University’s Public Safety Department.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved Tuesday a proposal from GSW Interim President Charles Patterson to name the building the Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith Memorial Building.

“It is with great honor that Georgia Southwestern State University names the home of our Public Safety Department the Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith Memorial Building,” Patterson said. “Officer Smith was an energetic member of our campus community.

“He and Nick Smarr – a member of the Americus Police Department – were great officers, dedicated members of our community and the best of friends. We are grateful to the families of Jody and Nick and to the Americus Police Department for allowing us to honor them in this way.”

Smarr and Smith were high school classmates, roommates after high school, and graduated together from the Police Academy at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. They were killed in the line of duty last December.

“The dedication of our building to our fine young fallen officers is an honor to our department,” GSW Public Safety Director Mike Tracy said. “Both of these men, at a young age, dedicated themselves to a profession of public service. This naming event gives special honor to Nick and Jody and highlights Georgia Southwestern’s continuing partnership with the citizens of Americus, the Americus Police Department and the city of Americus.”

Americus Police Chief Mark Scott said the slain officers’ legacies will reflect the pride they took in their work as public servants and the care they had for their families.

“Nick Smarr and Jody Smith were outstanding police officers and great human beings,” Scott said. “They will always be remembered for the sacrifice they made in the name of the profession they both loved, but more importantly, they will always be remembered as beloved sons and brothers, friends, and comrades.

“We thank the Georgia Southwestern State University community for choosing to honor Nick and Jody’s legacies by naming the public safety building after them.”

A date for the naming ceremony has not been set.