Roll of Honor
Incident
Whilst on patrol with another Constable they had cause to stop a man they suspected of having stolen property, the man immediately became aggressive and struck Constable Smith violently in the face. Constable Smith and the man then struggled on the ground together where Constable Smith bled excessively and died.
Bled to death from a haemorrhage after being violently struck in the face and involved in a struggle on the ground while on patrol with another officer, when a man they had stopped on suspicion of having stolen property, immediately became aggressive.
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- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
149 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Constable Smith served with the East & West India Docks Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Constable John William 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John William Smith's cause is highlighted.
How John William Smith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John William Smith is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.