Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Charles Smith was shot and killed by the man who had murdered Deputy Sheriff Leslie Roark, of the Moniteau County Sheriff's Department, and Deputy Sheriff Sandra Wilson, of the Miller County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Smith was shot in the 100 block of East North Street in California, Missouri, when he ran to investigate the gunshots that killed Deputy Wilson. The man was found guilty of capital murder and was executed on January 9th, 2002. Sheriff Smith was a United States Army Vietnam veteran for four tours as a Green Beret. He was elected Sheriff of Cooper County in 1984 and had previously served with the Boonville Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
Sheriff Smith was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-39CFDB34- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Sheriff Smith gave the Cooper County Sheriff's Office 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Boonville 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
Charles Raymond Smith served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff Charles Raymond Smith is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.6 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Cooper County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Raymond Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Raymond Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Raymond Smith is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Raymond Smith was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Charles Raymond Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Charles Raymond Smith’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cooper County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
