The memory of Torrance County Sgt. Dominique "Dom" Smith now lives not only in the lives of those who knew him.

His name and memory are now etched in stone at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial and in the soil of Estancia.

On May 20, his name and picture joined the 181 other members of state law enforcement who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The yearly service memorializes those men and women. Smith, and State Police Lt. Michael Avilucea were honored last Wednesday.

"He presented an image and he made us better," said Torrance County Sheriff Clarence Gibson, fighting back tears. "Image was not important to him, but he was the true image of a man and the true image of a lawman."

Smith was killed in January after being struck by a van on Interstate 40 while conducting a traffic stop with suspected narcotics involved.

On Monday, Memorial Day, a garden was planted in honor of Smith in front of the Estancia Police Department, where Smith worked before joining the Sheriff's Department. Smith's wife, Heather, police, fire/EMT, town staff, friends, family and community members were all involved in planting the garden.

An American flag and black-and-white memorial flag flew at half staff above them.