SCOTT WALTON
For
Sheriff
Rogers County

Parole Denied for Catoosa Cop Killer

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has denied parole for convicted cop-killer David G. Smith. 

The unanimous 5-0 decision to deny parole for Smith came after testimony from the victim's brother, David Hamby and Rogers County District Attorney Gene Haynes.  Both men told the board that Smith continued to refuse to admit his role in the murder of Catoosa Chief of Police J.B. Hamby. 

Chief Hamby had responded to a robbery call at a Catoosa Tag Agency in 1978.  When he arrived a shootout began leading to the deaths of Hamby and Smith accomplice, Jackie Ray Young. 

Smith has always denied his role in the murder.  He claims that he was forced to commit the robbery by Young but eyewitness accounts refute Smith's assertions. 

According to reports, Smith appeared to be in control of his actions.  Witnesses reported that Young and Smith entered the tag office and yelled that they were robbing the office.  The men then bound two female employees with duct tape and then tried to disable a security camera.  Both of the men were armed. 

As the two men argued over the camera, Chief Hamby entered the office and that's when the shooting started.  Smith was struck two times and Young suffered a fatal gunshot; later determined to be self-inflicted.

Smith was able to escape when Chief Hamby died. He was later captured at a hospital trying to receive treatment for his gunshot wounds.

Smith was convicted in 1979 and spent a few years in prison until 1984 when he walked away and remained free for eight years. 

He was later apprehended in South Dakota and reports indicate that at the time of his arrest he was found in the possession of a hand gun.  A search of his residence reportedly revealed several other guns as well.

Smith was returned to Oklahoma and was sentenced to an additional four years for escaping.

Since being recaptured, Smith has been allowed to get married, purchase a home and has even been let free from prison to participate in the Tulsa Run.

The Parole Board had received a recommendation from one of their own investigators recommending parole.  The report claimed that Smith was a model prisoner that should be released.  Rogers County District Attorney Gene Haynes disagreed with the report and explained to the parole board that Smith, while a good prisoner, should not be released yet.  Haynes articulated that Smith continued to refuse to admit his involvement in the robbery and killing. 

Former prison warden Sonny Scott also requested that Smith be paroled, calling the murder of Chief Hamby a tragic mistake made by Smith 29-years ago. 

A letter writing effort was publicized by Scott Walton who knew Chief Hamby and witnessed the impact the murder had on the Hamby family.

“Having grown up in this community, and knowing the Hamby family, I've witnessed the impact of this murder first-hand,” Walton said. “Besides law enforcement's loss, the greatest loss was that experienced by his family. It's my opinion that this debt can never be paid.”

Walton went with David Hamby to the Parole Board Hearing on Tuesday. 

"I'm glad the Board did the right thing," Walton said.  "In my opinion this man (Smith) hasn't even begun to repay his debt.  He won't accept responsibility for killing Hamby or even taking part in the robbery.  He's hurt a lot of people, killed a respected police chief, snubbed his nose at the law and now he wants to portray himself as the victim of everything."

Paid for by Scott Walton for Sheriff