Obituaries

William H.T. SmithDeputy Police Commissioner

William H.T. Smith, 87, a former deputy police commissioner in New York City and a staff director for the Washington-based Police Foundation, died of multiple strokes Dec. 22 at Friends Nursing Home in Sandy Spring. He was an Olney resident from 1973 to 1997, when he moved to Derwood.

Mr. Smith was born in New York and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1935. He worked briefly as a patrolman with the New York City Police Department before enlisting in the Army Air Forces. During World War II, he was a B-29 navigator with the rank of first lieutenant.

After the war, he rejoined NYPD, where for the next 22 years his duties included foot and radio motor patrol, gambling and vice investigation, civil defense, and personnel character investigation. He rose to the rank of captain.

From 1957 to 1961, he was assigned to the faculty of the New York City Police Academy, serving for two years as head of the recruit training program. In 1961, he organized and directed a staff for the newly created Gambling Enforcement Inspection and Review Board.

In 1963, he left New York to become a deputy police chief in Syracuse, N.Y. He served as chief of the department from 1964 to 1967.

In 1967, he became director of the Inspection Division for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, serving under Secretary Robert C. Weaver. He was responsible for ensuring the integrity of HUD projects and activities and helped develop a special project dealing with organized crime. He also completed a reorganization of the Inspection Division.

He moved back to New York City in 1970 to become first deputy commissioner, a post he held until 1973, when former NYPD Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy invited him to become staff director of the Police Foundation. He retired in 1978.

Mr. Smith received his undergraduate degree in business administration from Pace College in New York in 1960 and his master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University in 1965. He also lectured at various colleges and universities and was a consultant to the U.S. Justice Department. He was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and other professional organizations.

A daughter, Marian S. Mills, died in 1993.

His wife, Veronica M. Smith, died in 1999.

Survivors include a daughter, Julia F. Welsh of Derwood; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

James W. RedfieldFBI Agent

James W. Redfield, 81, an FBI special agent who retired in 1977 as chief of the domestic intelligence section, died of cancer Dec. 22 at Sleepy Hollow Manor in Annandale. He lived in Arlington.