Roll of Honor
Incident
Commander Joseph Goldsmith succumbed to injuries incurred when he was involved in a motorcycle crash while escorting a rally known as the "Law Enforcement Run for the Wall." He was escorting the runners between Tuba City and Window Rock, Arizona.
During the escort, he lost control of his motorcycle when it struck a gravel shoulder on Highway 264 near Second Mesa. He suffered severe injuries in the accident and died after being transported to a hospital in Flagstaff.
Commander Goldsmith was a U.S. Air Force veteran where he served as a security policeman. He had served with the Apache County Sheriff's Office for five years. He had previously served with the Arizona Department of Corrections for five years and the Springerville Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-2A678DF8- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Commander Goldsmith gave the Apache County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Johns community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph Allen Goldsmith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Commander Joseph Allen Goldsmith is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AZ, 95 of 330 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.8% of this state's fallen. That is 2.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Apache County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Allen Goldsmith's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Allen Goldsmith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Allen Goldsmith is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Apache County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
