Donald Boyd Smith

Georgia Dept. of Corrections — Atlanta, GA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 29, 1970

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 106 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 37

Incident

Assistant Director Donald Smith and Correctional Officer Richard Rogers were shot and killed inside of Parker Elementary School in Sumner, Georgia, while attempting to apprehend an escapee from the George State Prison in Reidsville.

The prison trusty had escaped four days earlier while working inside of the assistant warden's home. He was able to gain control of a handgun inside the home and then took the assistant warden's wife hostage before stealing several more firearms. He forced the hostage to drive him over 100 miles before letting her go. She immediately alerted local authorities who started a massive search for the man.

Officers from the Georgia State Prison were also sent to Sumner to lead the search. Assistant Director Smith and Officer Rogers were part of a group of four officers who located fresh tracks near the elementary school and found it unlocked. As they began to search the school the escapee suddenly emerged from the principal's office and opened fire with a shotgun, killing Assistant Director Smith and Officer Rogers. One of the other two officers was wounded as they retreated and called for assistance.

The escapee then barricaded himself inside of the school's auditorium. He was shot and killed when he opened fire on approaching officers.

Assistant Director Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served at the Georgia State Prison for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and young son.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Assistant Director Smith served with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Georgia Dept. of Corrections

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity gdcorr.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1970

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

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

Assistant Director Donald Boyd 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Georgia Dept. of Corrections, 16 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Dept. of Corrections

of 38 officers

42.1% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious