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Incident
Police Officer Richard Smith was shot and killed while he and other officers searched for a suspect in the basement of a hotel. The suspect was wanted for failing to appear in court for assaulting his girlfriend with a knife. The suspect was hiding in a storeroom and saw Officer Smith through a crack in the wall. The man opened fire through a wooden partition, fatally wounding Officer Smith. The suspect, 46, then shot and killed himself. Officer Smith was a United States Army WWII Intelligence Officer veteran and had served with the Tulare Police Department for six months. He was survived by his wife and mother. In 1978 a street was named Richard Smith Street in Officer Smith's honor.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and mother.
In Our Keeping
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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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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.
Police Officer Smith served with the Tulare Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tulare 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
Richard Wellington Smith served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tulare Police Department has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Richard is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Richard is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1947, 6 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 63rd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1947, 86 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 74th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1947, 87 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard was 29. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Richard had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard was 29. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Richard was 29. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Richard had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Tulare Police Department. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Tulare Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
Military Service
Richard Wellington Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Richard Wellington Smith’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 21-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Tulare Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
