Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Booth was shot and killed while transporting two men to jail. Detective Booth and another detective had stopped a car at Towson Avenue and South E Street. The car contained two men that were known to the detectives. The other detective left the scene to pickup their captain and Detective Booth began to ride to the jail in the suspects' vehicle. Unbeknownst to the detectives, the men had just stolen the vehicle. Immediately after turning onto Rogers Avenue a shootout ensued inside of the vehicle and Detective Booth was shot once. Detective Booth exited the passenger side of the car on Rogers Avenue and ran around to the driver's side. The men also exited the passenger side and one of them fired across the hood of the car, striking Detective Booth three more times. Although mortally wounded, Detective Booth attempted to follow the men but collapsed in a nearby car dealership. He was transported to St. Edward Hospital where he died 30 minutes later. The suspects, ages 18 and 23, were apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. Both were paroled in 1945. Detective Booth had been with the agency for 20 years.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-393AAA23- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Booth gave the Fort Smith Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Smith community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Booth.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sam Booth 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fort Smith Police Department, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sam Booth's cause is highlighted.
How Sam Booth Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1945
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sam Booth is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sam Booth was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Fort Smith Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
