Charles T. Smith

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 31, 1973

Age 24

Tour of Duty 8 mo

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Police Officers Charles Smith and Gerald Hempe were shot and killed during a traffic stop. While attempting to arrest the driver of the vehicle, a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a bystander who witnessed the stop walked up to the officers and opened fire, striking them both in the neck and head. The bystander had nothing to do with the stop. The suspect was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on June 12, 1973. He was denied parole in 2010 and 2023. His next parole hearing is in 2027. Officer Smith was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for eight months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-46009EA7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 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.
Police Officer Smith served with the Milwaukee Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee 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

Department Milwaukee Police Department

Location Milwaukee, WI

Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1973

Tour of Duty 8 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Charles T. Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Charles T. Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.

Milwaukee Police Department

of 69 officers

60.9% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious