The Boston Police Department and the Dorchester community last week mourned the loss of Officer William F. Smith, III, who died suddenly on July 9 while vacationing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Officer Smith, 59 was known affectionately as “Billy” to friends, neighbors and colleagues. He was laid to rest in Blue Hill Cemetery following a funeral Mass on Saturday at St. Brendan Church.
On Friday, traffic came to a halt in Adams Corner as hundreds of police officers gathered to attend his wake at the John J. O’Connor & Son Funeral Home in Dorchester. Outside, members of the police bagpipe band— a scene captured by Billy Smith’s friend, longtime Globe photographer Bill Brett.
