Roll of Honor
Daryl Wayne Smallwood
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Daryl Smallwood succumbed to wounds he sustained when he and Sergeant Patrick Sondron were shot after responding to a neighbor dispute on Hardison Road, near Route 42, near Byron, Georgia, at approximately 5:30 pm.
Two residents in the area were riding ATVs on a roadway when they were confronted by a neighbor who threatened them with a firearm. The victims left the scene and called 911 to report the incident. Sergeant Sondron and Deputy Smallwood responded to the victims' residence and conducted interviews with them. After speaking to them, they drove to the suspect's home.
Sergeant Sondron and Deputy Smallwood spoke with the subject and informed him that they were placing him under arrest due to video evidence. The suspect pulled a gun from his back pocket and shot both officers. The original victims witnessed the shooting and again called 911 to report that both deputies had been shot.
Officers from numerous surrounding agencies responded to the location. The suspect had gathered more weapons, hid behind the patrol car, and fired at responding officers before being shot and wounded and taken into custody.
Sergeant Sondron and Deputy Smallwood were taken to a local hospital, where Sergeant Sondron died from his injuries. Deputy Smallwood died two days later from his wounds.
The suspect pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to two life sentences without a chance of parole plus 100 years in September 2018.
Deputy Smallwood was a United States Marine Corps veteran who served with the Peach County Sheriff's Office for 14 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-6B62C937- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Smallwood gave the Peach County Sheriff's Office 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Valley 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
Daryl Wayne Smallwood served in the Marine Corps (1996â1998) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Daryl Wayne Smallwood 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Peach County Sheriff's Dept., 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. Daryl Wayne Smallwood's cause is highlighted.
How Daryl Wayne Smallwood Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life 2 life terms plus 100
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daryl Wayne Smallwood is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Daryl Wayne Smallwood was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Peach County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
