Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Joseph Smith succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier when he encountered three men leaving a beach carrying turtle eggs and turtle meat. The day after his death, the body of his suspected killer was found hanging from a tree in Palm Beach. Officer Smith had served with the Palm Beach Police Department for 3 years.
Survivors
He was survived by a brother who also served with the agency at the time.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-C76B4404- 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.
Police Officer Smith gave the Palm Beach Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Palm Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Joseph Nelson 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Palm Beach Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Nelson Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Nelson Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Nelson Smith is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Nelson Smith was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Palm Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
