Michael Joseph Smith
Agency patch
Sergeant

Michael Joseph Smith

Dallas Police Department — Dallas, TX
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch July 7, 2016
Age 55
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Badge 6141
The Vigil Panel 166 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Michael Smith, Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, Police Officer Michael Krol, and Police Officer Patrick Zamarripa of the Dallas Police Department, and Police Officer Brent Thompson of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department, were shot and killed by an active shooter during a protest in downtown Dallas.

As the protesters walked down Main Street between South Lamar Street and South Market Street, a sniper opened fire on police officers who were providing security for the event. The man shot a total of 12 officers, killing five and wounding seven.

The subject was cornered in an adjacent college building and barricaded himself inside for several hours while he spoke to negotiators, during which time he stated he specifically targeted white police officers. He was killed when the Dallas Police Department's Bomb Squad moved an explosive device to the man's location using a robot and detonated it.

Sergeant Smith was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Dallas Police Department for 27 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-6EFD685F
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.
Sergeant Smith gave the Dallas Police Department 27 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas 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

Location Dallas, TX
Platform Identity dpd.dallas.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 2016
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 55
Badge Number 6141
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle
Offender Killed by officers

Military Service

Michael Joseph Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Michael Joseph Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Dallas Police Department, 55 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.9% of this agency's fallen.

Dallas Police Department
55
of 95 officers
57.9% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Michael Joseph Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Killed by officers

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Joseph Smith is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Joseph Smith was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location