Roll of Honor
Sonny Allan Smith
Incident
Auxiliary Deputy Sonny Smith was shot and killed as he and other deputies searched for a burglary suspect in the area of County Road 1723 at approximately 2:30 am.
He located the subject hiding in a wooded area and pursued him on foot. During the pursuit the man opened fire with a .22 caliber handgun, striking Deputy Smith in the neck. Despite the wound, Deputy Smith returned fire and wounded the subject. The man was then taken into custody.
Deputy Smith was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
On May 27, 2016, the 52-year-old suspect was found guilty of murder and burglary and sentenced to 28 years for murder and five years for burglary with the sentences to run concurrently.
Deputy Smith was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-44FAAFD6- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Sonny is one person.
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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.
Auxiliary Deputy Smith gave the Johnson County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Clarksville 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Sonny Allan Smith served in the U.S. Navy (1991â1995) before joining law enforcement.
Auxiliary Deputy Sonny Allan 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 97,759 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 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Johnson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sonny Allan Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Sonny Allan Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sonny Allan Smith is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sonny Allan Smith was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.
Incident Location
Military Service
Sonny Allan Smith served in the U.S. Navy (1991–1995) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Sonny Allan Smith’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Johnson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
