Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Frank Smith

Clay County Sheriff's Office — Spencer, IA

Felonious

End of Watch August 9, 1924

Age 66

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Frank Smith was shot and killed when he and the sheriff responded to a domestic disturbance call. The suspect shot Deputy Smith before being shot and wounded by the sheriff. The suspect then committed suicide.

Deputy Smith had served with the agency for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-ECFEF730
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Clay County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Spencer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.

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

Agency

Department Clay County Sheriff's Office

Location Spencer, IA

Platform Identity ccso.clay.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 9, 1924

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 66

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Frank 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 IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Clay 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.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Smith's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Frank Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Smith is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Clay County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.