Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Oliver Smith was shot and killed outside of his apartment on the 4400 block of Rena Road in Forestville, Maryland, while off duty during a robbery attempt. Officer Smith was returning home from his shift in civilian clothes when three suspects approached him as he was exiting his vehicle outside of his home. During the robbery, they made him lie face down. As they searched him, they found his duty weapon and badge and then shot him three times in the back of his head as he lay on the ground. The three suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree murder. One suspect plead guilty to felony murder and was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for a handgun violation. The suspect who fired the gun received life in prison without parole. The third suspect testified against the other suspects and was given life with a 35 year suspended sentence. Officer Smith had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-0DC36A97- 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 Metropolitan Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington 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 Oliver Wendell Smith Jr. 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oliver Wendell Smith Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Oliver Wendell Smith Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oliver Wendell Smith Jr. is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oliver Wendell Smith Jr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
