Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Philip Smith succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk and disorderly in public.
The subject worked at a local iron forge and had come into town to drink with his coworkers. Chief Smith had told them to move along but the subject became more disorderly. Chief Smith placed him arrest, but the man's friends began to come to his aid as they neared the police department.
When Chief Smith pulled out his baton he was disarmed by the man who them beat him severely, causing him to suffer a skull fracture. The man was arrested, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to seven years in jail.
Chief Smith was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Chief Smith was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NJ-46DFB598- Stewardship
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
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Chief of Police Smith served with the Hackettstown Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Hackettstown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Philip Schuyler Smith is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 18.5 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Philip Schuyler Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Philip Schuyler Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Philip Schuyler Smith is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Philip Schuyler Smith was killed by blunt object; baton.