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Incident
Sergeant Herschel Smith succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on March 13th, 1936, inside of the Chickasha Police Department.
An officer had brought a federal agent into the communications area of the department to show him a sawed-off, doubled barreled shotgun. As he closed the breach of the shotgun it discharged, striking Sergeant Smith in his right leg above his knee. Gangrene set into the wound and Sergeant Smith died, as a result, three days later on March 16th, 1936.
Sergeant Smith had served with the Chickasha Police Department for less than one year.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Sergeant Smith gave the Chickasha Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chickasha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Chickasha Police Department has lost 4 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Herschel is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
Herschel is one of 8,274 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Herschel is one of 10,099 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1936, 2 officers in OK were lost to accidents, the 17th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 1936, 88 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 16th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1936, 97 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 25th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Herschel was 30. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. Herschel had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Herschel was 30. Of the 7,715 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Herschel had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Herschel was 30. Of the 9,448 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Herschel had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 12.6% of these deaths in OK, more than any other month. Mondays: 17.8%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 4 deaths at Chickasha Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Chickasha Police Department has 4 officers remembered here, Herschel among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Chickasha Police Department are honored on badge.nw.