Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for shooting a co-worker at a sawmill. After shooting Deputy Smith the man fled into nearby woods where he remained until turning himself in several days later.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-BF7D23AE- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Smith served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winter Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Oliver Thomas 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 Polk County Sheriff's Department, 7 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oliver Thomas Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Oliver Thomas Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oliver Thomas Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oliver Thomas Smith was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Polk County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
