Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Edgar Smith was killed in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 101, two miles north of Salinas, at about 6:30 pm.
When he arrived at the station he discovered that the radio on his motorcycle wasn't working. He drove to a mechanic's home in Monterey County to ask him to open his shop. As the two returned to the shop in Salinas another car turned left in front of him across from the Rose Room, causing a collision.
Patrolman Smith had served with the Salinas Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, four brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-0D146B49- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Edgar. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Smith gave the Salinas Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Salinas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Edgar Claude Smith is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Salinas Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edgar Claude Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Edgar Claude Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Edgar Claude Smith is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Salinas Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
