Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Orville Smith died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle operated by an intoxicated driver.
Sergeant Smith was working a traffic detail on Route 110 at the intersection of Indian Well Road. He was standing next to his patrol car when he and his patrol car were struck by the driver a Nissan Frontier pickup truck. Sergeant Smith was taken to Bridgeport Hospital where he died from his injuries four days later.
The driver of the pick-up truck was arrested and charged in connection with Sergeant Smith's death. In October 2011 he pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter and was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison.
Sergeant Smith had served with the Shelton Police Department for 39 years. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War and also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Shelton Fire Department White Hills Co. No. 5.
Sergeant Smith is survived by his wife, sister and her husband and several nieces and nephews.
Survivors
Sergeant Smith is survived by his wife, sister and her husband and several nieces and nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-75E532E4- 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.
Sergeant Smith gave the Shelton Police Department 39 years.
Thank you for your service to the Shelton community. Thank you 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
Orville Royal Smith, Jr. served in the Marine Corps (1966â1973) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Orville Royal Smith, Jr. 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Shelton Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Orville Royal Smith, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Orville Royal Smith, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 3 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Orville Royal Smith, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Orville Royal Smith, Jr. was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Shelton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
