Roll of Honor
David Miller Smith
Incident
Special Investigator David Smith succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on December 7th, 1927, when he was inadvertently shot by a Beaver County constable while making an arrest.
He and the constable were conducting a prohibition investigation and had arranged to purchase alcohol from a bootlegger at the Legionville Bridge (the modern-day location of Duss Avenue and Legionville Road). As they attempted to arrest the man the constable slipped down a muddy ravine and his pistol inadvertently discharged. The round struck Investigator Smith in the hip. He was taken to a local hospital and was expected to recover, however, he developed an infection and died on March 17th, 1928.
The constable was charged with manslaughter but the charges were later dropped.
Investigator Smith was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Investigator Smith was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-PA-0726CC0D- Stewardship
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- 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.
Special Investigator Smith served with the Beaver County District Attorney's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Beaver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Investigator Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Investigator David Miller Smith is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 33.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Beaver County District Attorney's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Miller Smith's cause is highlighted.
How David Miller Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David Miller Smith is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Beaver County District Attorney's Office are honored on badge.nw.
