Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Charles Smith was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance call at a local house on Piedmont Avenue. As he and Officer Augusta Kimberly left the house, they observed a man holding a shotgun. Chief Smith asked the man what he was doing and was answered with gunfire. He was struck by two blasts from the gun. Both officers returned fire but did not strike the suspect. Chief Smith was taken to a doctor but died the following day. The man was arrested a short time later. The suspect committed suicide by hanging himself with bed sheets following his preliminary hearing. Chief Smith was a United States Army WWI veteran and had served with the Piedmont Police Department for five years. He was survived by his two sisters. On August 27, 1934, Officer F. Augusta Kimberly was shot and killed in the line of duty in the exact location.
Survivors
He was survived by his two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-7BBCFA3A- 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.
Chief of Police Smith gave the Piedmont Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Piedmont 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Charles R. Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police Charles R. 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Piedmont 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. Charles R. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Charles R. Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles R. Smith is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles R. Smith was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Piedmont Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
