Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Samuel Smith suffered a fatal heart attack following a struggle with a drunk driving suspect.
When Deputy Smith and another deputy were making the arrest, Deputy Smith complained of being short of breath. As Deputy Smith and the other deputy began to drive back to the jail in separate patrol cars, Deputy Smith's vehicle left the roadway on Georgia 42 near Mathews Road. The other deputy turned around, called for assistance, and began life-saving efforts. Deputy Smith was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Smith had served with the Crawford County Sheriff's Department for 11 years and had previously served with the Roberta Police Department.
It Has been 20 years today. I still miss you.
Kristy Daughter of the other Deputy that he was helping that day March 2nd, 2021
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-84D7BBDC- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Crawford County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Samuel F. Smith is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 23 of 903 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 2.5% of this state's fallen. That is 1.5 percentage points below the national rate of 4%.
At Crawford County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel F. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel F. Smith Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel F. Smith is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Crawford County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
