Statement from SMU
A statement from the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøVolleyball program.
It would be SMU’s privilege to feature Victoria Smith delivering an honorary serve at the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøvolleyball game Saturday. Her father, Dallas Police Sgt. Michael Smith, was killed in the line of duty July 7.
The 51³Ô¹ÏÍøVolleyball program extends its sincere apologies to the Smith family and is reaching out this morning to speak directly to Mrs. Smith to apologize and reinforce that the invitation stands. This incident does not reflect 51³Ô¹ÏÍøvalues. Due to a change in staffing, there was a breakdown in communication that led to this unfortunate situation. This communication to Mrs. Smith would never have occurred if proper approval and communications procedures had been followed. The invitation was intended to help a family heal, and we very much look forward to Victoria’s first serve in the volleyball match Saturday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍøvalues the service and sacrifices of all first-responders and honored Victoria’s father, Sgt. Michael Smith, as well as Dallas Police officers Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, and Patrick Zamarripa, DART Officer Brent Thompson, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøOfficer Mark McCullers and University Park Fire Department Chief Bob Poynter at the annual First-Responders football game earlier this fall.
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