Denver Police Officer Troy Smith was arrested in Brighton, Colorado, in connection with a domestic violence-related assault investigation, according to reports from the Denver Police Department and local news outlets.
CBS News Colorado reported that Smith was arrested on March 21, 2025, for investigation of third-degree assault–domestic violence, a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Denver Police Department said Smith was a Denver officer assigned most recently to the department’s Airport Police Bureau.
According to Denver7, Smith was 50 years old at the time of the arrest and was released from custody after posting a $2,500 bond. Denver7 also reported that Smith had joined the Denver Police Department in 2007.
The case was not investigated by the Denver Police Department itself. Reports indicate the arrest occurred in Brighton, and the criminal case was being handled outside DPD. The department said Smith was moved to a non-patrol assignment while the case proceeds through the judicial process.
9NEWS reported that court documents alleged Smith slammed a family member into patio furniture. The Denver Gazette similarly reported that Smith was accused of pushing his wife into patio furniture.
After the arrest, Denver police said an administrative review would be conducted once the criminal case was resolved. Denver7 reported that the review process includes the Denver Department of Safety and the Office of the Independent Monitor.
The allegations are serious because domestic violence cases involving law enforcement officers raise obvious public trust concerns. Police officers are given legal authority, public power, and the ability to intervene in domestic violence calls involving members of the public. When an officer is accused of similar conduct, the public has a legitimate interest in whether the case is handled transparently, whether the officer remains on duty, and what discipline, if any, follows the criminal process.
As with all criminal cases, Smith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest or charge is not a conviction.
