Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Smith and Deputy Sheriff Hubert Webb, of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed as they and other officers attempted to arrest a fugitive. The officers were involved in a running gun battle with the man along the banks of the Holston River just below the Old Kingsport underpass. The suspect, 18, was wanted for murdering Deputy Sheriff Murdock McIntosh, of the Greene County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Department, on December 24th, 1924. As the officers approached, the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding both officers. The suspect was apprehended and died on March 9, 1958, while serving his sentence in a penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi. Patrolman Smith is buried in Pyles Cemetery, Sullivan County, Tennessee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-A6EEF768- 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.
Patrolman Smith served with the Kingsport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kingsport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John F. 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Kingsport Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Smith is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Smith was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Kingsport Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
