Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Lafayette Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect near S 9th Street and Douglas Street. He had observed a man and woman struggling in the street at 12:45 am and attempted to arrest the man. During the ensuing struggle, Officer Smith was shot by the suspect. The suspect was later shot and critically wounded by a detective before being taken into custody. He died in the hospital nine days later. The suspect was one of three men arrested for the murder of Police Officer Charles Mayer of the St. Paul, Minnesota Police Department on February 1, 1902. All three men were released because of a lack of evidence and a key witness refusing to testify. Officer Smith had served with the Omaha Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NE-60A00265- 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.
Officer Smith gave the Omaha Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Lafayette A. 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 64.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Omaha Police Department, 21 of 25 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lafayette A. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Lafayette A. Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lafayette A. Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lafayette A. Smith was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
24 officers from Omaha Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
