Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal Charles Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had just committed an armed robbery. He had responded to a call of an armed robbery and observed the suspect board a passing a Pacific Electric streetcar. Marshal Smith also boarded the streetcar struck up a conversation with the man. After determining he was the same subject involved in the robbery he told the man he was under arrest. The man immediately tried to flee the streetcar as it passed through Klondike Park, a neighborhood between Ivanhoe and Elysian Heights, as Marshal Smith attempted to stop him. The man shot Marshal Smith in the neck with a .44 caliber revolver and jumped from the streetcar. Marshal Smith was taken to Receiving Hospital where he died of his wound. The suspect was later shot and killed by other detectives. The city of Tropico consolidated with the city of Glendale on January 9th, 1918, exactly three years after Marshal Smith's murder.
Survivors
Marshal Smith was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5E159D49- Stewardship
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- 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.
City Marshal Smith served with the Tropico Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tropico community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Charles Whitney 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 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. Charles Whitney Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Whitney Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Whitney Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Whitney Smith was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.