Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Billy Smelley succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained ten days earlier when a prisoner gained control of another officer's weapon inside the police station at 104 Main Street and shot both officers. Patrolman Smelley had arrested the subject for DWI and was in the process of booking him when the incident occurred. He succumbed to his wound while being transported to the hospital. The subject committed suicide outside of the police station. Patrolman Smelley had served with the Quinlan Police Department for 10 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-87E89920- Stewardship
- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Smelley served with the Quinlan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Quinlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smelley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Billy Gene Smelley 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Billy Gene Smelley's cause is highlighted.
How Billy Gene Smelley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Gene Smelley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Billy Gene Smelley was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Quinlan Police Department are honored on badge.nw.