Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Virgil Smith was shot and killed around 6 p.m. inside of the Beattyville police station by a prisoner during an escape attempt.
The prisoner had broken a water pipe in his cell, which caused the jail to begin to flood. As Chief Smith entered the cell to investigate the prisoner attacked him. The man disarmed Chief Smith and then shot him three times, killing him.
The man, who had only been arrested three hours earlier for disorderly conduct, fled from the jail after murdering Chief Smith.
Chief Smith was survived by his wife, father, and sister.
Survivors
Chief Smith was survived by his wife, father, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-60105CFF- 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.
Chief of Police Smith served with the Beattyville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Beattyville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Virgil 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Beattyville Police Department, 2 of 2 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. Virgil Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Virgil Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Virgil Smith is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Virgil Smith was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Beattyville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.