Roll of Honor
Incident
Watchman Elijah Smith was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery at a local hardware store.
The suspect, who was an escaped convict from a Texas prison, was apprehended by officers in Blytheville, Arkansas, a week later while trying to rob a beer truck. He was convicted of Watchman Smith's murder and sentenced to life.
On October 8, 1941, he and three inmates attempted to escape from the Oklahoma Penitentiary. His three inmate companions, Warden Jess Dunn, and Deputy Sheriff William A. Ford of the Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office were shot and killed. He was convicted of Warden Dunn's murder and executed in the electric chair July 14, 1943.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-927DD860- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Night Watchman Smith served with the Byars Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Byars community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Elijah Columbus Smith is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,787 officers honored here.
In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elijah Columbus Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Elijah Columbus Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elijah Columbus Smith is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elijah Columbus Smith was killed by shotgun.
Where the Name Is Cut
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Byars Police Department are honored on badge.nw.