John Charles Smith
Agency patch
Policeman

John Charles Smith

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch March 2, 1966
Age 27
Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo
Badge 10395
The Vigil Panel 101 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman John Smith was struck and killed by a drunk driver while watching traffic on a police motorcycle.. The 46-year-old driver was charged with felony drunk driving and manslaughter. The driver was convicted of misdemeanor manslaughter and sentenced to 3 years probation and fined $550.00. Policeman Smith served with the Los Angles Police Department for six and a half years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-962DD3BC
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.
Policeman Smith gave the Los Angeles Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Smith.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 2, 1966
Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo
Age 27
Badge Number 10395
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Policeman John Charles 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Los Angeles Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles Police Department
115
of 240 officers
47.9% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Charles Smith Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Charles Smith is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Charles Smith was killed by automobile.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location