Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Hiram Smith was shot and killed as he and the Jackson police chief questioned a man suspected of stealing an automobile.
The suspect was located at a local restaurant on College Avenue but claimed he was not the man they were looking for. The suspect insisted he had papers in his room on the second floor of the building that would identify him. The officers were both shot after accompanying the man to his room to locate the papers. The police chief recovered from his wounds.
The suspect was convicted of Constable Smith's murder and was sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on February 26, 1943.
Constable Smith was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Constable Smith was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-66372E61- 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.
Constable Smith served with the Breathitt County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Hiram 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Breathitt County Constable's Office, 5 of 5 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. Hiram Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Hiram Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1943
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hiram Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hiram Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Breathitt County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.
