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Milton Raymond Smalling
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Milton Smalling was killed when his service weapon discharged after falling to the ground. The discharged round struck him in the chest. He was removing equipment from his patrol car when the accident occurred. Deputy Smalling was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Milton is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Smalling served with the Imperial County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the El Centro community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Milton Raymond Smalling served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Imperial County Sheriff's Office has lost 7 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Milton is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Milton is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Milton is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1967, 1 officer at Imperial County Sheriff's Office was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1967, 3 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 94th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1967, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1967, 92 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 33rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Milton was 41. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Imperial County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 41; the middle age was 39.
Milton was 41. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35.
Milton was 41. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Milton was 41. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
January holds 20% of these deaths at Imperial County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Sundays: 20%.
January holds 9.3% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 13.9%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 71.4% of all 7 deaths at Imperial County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 20% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 0.5% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 0.4% of these deaths.
His people
Imperial County Sheriff's Office has 7 officers remembered here, Milton among them.
Military Service
Milton Raymond Smalling served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Milton Raymond Smalling’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Imperial County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
