William E. Smith

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 23, 1975

Age 28

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 73

Incident

Police Officer William Smith was shot and killed while he and his partner responded to a disturbance at a bar on Federal Boulevard at 2:11 a.m. Unbeknownst to the officers, two suspects were inside committing an armed robbery at the time. As Officer Smith opened the door, one of the men inside opened fire, fatally wounding him. Both subjects were later apprehended. One of the suspects suffered a gunshot wound and died a month later. The second suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Patrolman Smith was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Denver Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-4397228A
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

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.
Patrolman Smith gave the Denver Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Denver Police Department

Location Denver, CO

Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 23, 1975

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed; Life in prison

Military Service

William E. Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman William E. Smith 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Denver Police Department, 55 of 74 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 74.3% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Police Department

of 74 officers

74.3% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious