Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal Robert Smithwick succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered two days earlier when he interrupted a burglary at a neighbor's house.
He was at home with his family when his wife noticed a prowler outside of the neighbor's home and alerted him. He was shot when he confronted the man.
Deputies took him to Orange General Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds two days later.
Marshal Smithwick also served as a deputy for the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-0B3B1DF8- 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.
Town Marshal Smithwick served with the Groveland Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Groveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Smithwick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Robert L. Smithwick 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 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. Robert L. Smithwick's cause is highlighted.
How Robert L. Smithwick Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert L. Smithwick is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert L. Smithwick was killed by handgun.