Roll of Honor
Jody Carl Smith
Incident
Public Safety Officer Jody Smith and Police Officer Nicholas Smarr, of the Americus Police Department, were shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence incident at a local apartment complex at South Lee Street and Country Club Drive, near the Georgia Southwestern State University.
The officers had been notified that the male subject was punching holes in the apartment walls and that he had an active felony warrant. When they arrived on scene the complainant advised them that the man was still inside of the apartment. Officer Smith went to the rear of the building as Officer Smarr announced himself at the front door. As Officer Smarr entered the apartment he observed the male subject entering the apartment from the back door.
He ordered the man to come to him, but the man instead fled out of the back door. Officer Smarr radioed that the man was fleeing and ran through the apartment. As both officers pursued the man on foot the subject opened fire on them, striking both officers in the head. Despite his wounds, Officer Smarr returned fire but did not strike the suspect. Officer Smarr immediately began to perform CPR on Officer Smith until he collapsed from his own wounds. Both officers were transported to Phoebe Sumter Regional Hospital where Officer Smarr was pronounced dead. Officer Smith was flown to a trauma center in Macon, Georgia, where he died the following day.
The suspect fled the scene but committed suicide next day following a SWAT raid of a local residence.
Officer Smith was survived by his fiancee.
Survivors
Officer Smith was survived by his fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-78088886- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Public Safety Officer Smith gave the Georgia Southwestern State University Department of Public Safety 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Public Safety Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Public Safety Officer Jody Carl Smith is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jody Carl Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Jody Carl Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jody Carl Smith is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jody Carl Smith was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Georgia Southwestern State University Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw.