03/04/2026
🚨February 2026 3rd Division Officer of the Month
Please join me in congratulating Officer Garrett Schmeltz for being selected as the Third Division Officer of the Month for February 2026.
On Sunday, January 11th, 2026, LMPD 3rd Division Officers and PRP Fire/EMS were dispatched to an address on Dixie Highway on a report of a male employee down inside the construction trailer at the location, with another individual also inside. When Fire/EMS arrived, they observed the suspect flee the location on foot before locating the deceased victim suffering from stab wounds to his abdomen. Video surveillance provided footage of a violent assault resulting in the death of the victim and the image of the suspect prior to fleeing the scene. A perimeter was established, but a K-9 track was unsuccessful in locating the suspect at that time. The Homicide Unit assumed control of the scene and investigation.
On that same date, Officer Schmeltz, while actively patrolling the area, observed a subject matching the physical description of the suspect shown in the surveillance footage of the murder. Officer Schmeltz advised dispatch of his location and with the assistance of Squad 1 Officers, was able to physically detain the suspect without incident. Homicide detectives were notified and responded to the scene. Vital evidence was collected, and the suspect was transported for a custodial interview. The suspect was then charged and booked for the murder which had occurred hours earlier.
The actions of Officer Schmeltz directly impacted the community by taking a violent felony suspect off the streets. Based on the prior actions of the suspect just hours before, any member of the community making direct contact with the suspect could face a potentially violent or deadly assault at the hands of the unstable violent felony offender.
