Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Willie Smith was killed after being struck by the car of a fleeing suspect and dragged more than 200 feet. He had positioned his patrol car in the path of the fleeing suspect who struck and killed him. The subject had fled from another officer who attempted to stop him after he ran his license plate and found out it was stolen. The suspect was charged with vehicular homicide. Officer Smith had served with the Savannah Police Department for two years and he was the 1993 Rookie of the Year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-CF2C6FC2- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Smith gave the Savannah Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Willie Samuel 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 32,509 officers honored here.
In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Savannah Police Dept., 21 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willie Samuel Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Willie Samuel Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willie Samuel Smith is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willie Samuel Smith was killed by automobile.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Savannah Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
