'Right now, he is fighting': Wife of injured Belleville police officer is grateful for outpouring of support - National Post
Belleville Police Service Const. Jeff Smith was stationed outside a Belleville synagogue on Sept. 20, 2026, as congregants inside began a service to mark Yom Kippur when he was injured in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect who later died. On Sept. 22, 2026, his wife, Ashley, posted a message of gratitude on social media with a photo of herself holding his hand in hospital. Smith family photoArticle contentThe wife of the police officer who was shot while stopping a gunman outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., has released an emotional thank you to supporters and “every scared soul” who was inside the building that night.
In a message on Facebook Tuesday night, Ashley Smith posted a photo of herself holding the hand of Const. Jeff Smith, who is in critical but stable condition in hospital.
In a post on X, former Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams shared a photo of Const. Jeff Smith. Belleville police confirmed to National Post it was Smith in the photo. Photo by @Ryan_r_Williams /XArticle content“Today, I held Jeff’s hand. And I thought about all of those hands. All of the people who have carried him, cared for him, prayed for him, fought for him and held us up when we didn’t know how we were going to stand,” she wrote. “I will never forget any of it.”
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A GoFundMe for the family, organized by the Canadian Jewish community, raised $518,231 as of Thursday, surpassing its initial goal of $450,000.
Hello, world.I don’t know where to begin.My words aren’t strong or steady yet, but I knew I needed to find them. I needed to use my voice for my dear Jeff, until he is able to use his.
From the deepest part of my heart and soul, thank you.
Thank you to this good and kind world that has surrounded Jeff and our family with more love, compassion, generosity and selflessness than I could ever put into words.
I cannot begin to express what the outpouring of love and support has meant to us. I know there are things happening every day that I don’t even know about yet. Messages being sent. Prayers being said. People checking in. Hands reaching out.And I know that my gratitude will never be enough.
Sean Ward, 29, began an apparent Sunday night attack on Belleville’s Sons of Jacob synagogue by first opening fire on a police officer stationed outside. By returning fire, the wounded officer, Const. Jeff Smith, likely prevented a massacre. Photo by via FacebookArticle contentI am witnessing real-life miracles.And so many of them have happened through human hands.
