Jonathan Smith '86

Distinguished Alumni Award | 2015

Declared a hero by those who knew him, worked with him and by those he saved, Jonathan was a U.S. Army veteran of Desert Storm and Desert Shield, was awarded the Soldier of the Year in 2009 upon his return from Iraq, and also served in the National Guard during Iraqi Freedom.

In addition, he earned three significant awards from the Pennsylvania State Police during his 13-year employment with the department.

He was awarded the Blooming Grove Service Award in recognition for his contribution to the successful investigation, manhunt and capture of Eric Matthew Frein in the Pocono Mountain Region in 2014.  In 2012, he was awarded the Hurricane Sandy Operation Award for his “service and dedication” and contributions of “maintaining security and safety of the residents” of New Jersey during the Hurricane Sandy response.

However, it was his most notable act of courage that earned him and his colleagues the Pennsylvania State Police Medal of Honor for First Responders, the department’s highest award, for the response to the tragic Amish schoolhouse massacre in Lancaster on Oct. 2, 2006. 

It was then “he acted heroically during the shootings, and then became a hero to survivors and parents for years afterward,” according to an article published by LNP newspaper.

The article states, “After hearing shotgun blasts, Smith was among the first inside, using his shield to smash out one of the school windows. He began carrying the wounded girls outside.”  Thereafter, Smith befriended the survivors and the victims’ families, and was often seen in uniform “playing baseball with kids in the newly built school.”

He also was known as a community volunteer, serving as a counselor with the Lancaster County Camp Cadet Program, the American Legion Honor Camp Cadet at York College and for participating in the “Shop With a Cop” program.

He passed away at his home in Red Lion, Pa., on June 12, 2015, of pancreatic cancer.