Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Smith was killed by three escaped convicts from Connecticut. Officer Smith and another officer did not know who they were when they walked up to them in their stolen parked car to question them about several local robberies. They opened fire killing Officer Smith and seriously wounding the other officer. One of the suspects was apprehended the next day in Jacksonville. The other two were apprehended a few days later in Pensacola. One of the escapees was serving a life sentence in Connecticut for murdering Trooper Irving H. Nelson of the Connecticut State Police on April 6, 1928. Two of the escapees including the murderer of Trooper Nelson, were convicted of Officer Smith's murder and sentenced to life. All three were returned to Connecticut to serve the remainder of their sentences plus an additional 24 years for escape and motor vehicle theft.
Survivors
Officer Smith was survived by his son and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-DB7E101F- 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.
Officer Smith served with the Jacksonville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Willie D. 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jacksonville Police Department, 25 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willie D. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Willie D. Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willie D. Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willie D. Smith was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Jacksonville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
