Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Richard Smith was shot and killed while he and other officers searched for a suspect in the basement of a hotel. The suspect was wanted for failing to appear in court for assaulting his girlfriend with a knife. The suspect was hiding in a storeroom and saw Officer Smith through a crack in the wall. The man opened fire through a wooden partition, fatally wounding Officer Smith. The suspect, 46, then shot and killed himself. Officer Smith was a United States Army WWII Intelligence Officer veteran and had served with the Tulare Police Department for six months. He was survived by his wife and mother. In 1978 a street was named Richard Smith Street in Officer Smith's honor.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7682BB1E- 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.
Police Officer Smith served with the Tulare Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tulare 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
Richard Wellington Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Richard Wellington 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%.
At Tulare 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. Richard Wellington Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Wellington Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Wellington Smith is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Wellington Smith was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Tulare Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
