Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Howard Smith died when he fell while investigating a possible burglary at the Pleasure Inn. After receiving reports of a man climbing out of a window, Deputy Smith and two other officers arrived on the scene to investigate. Deputy Smith went through another window to enter the building. The window led to the basement, and he fell 14 feet, hitting his head. He never regained consciousness and died at the St. Anthony Hospital. Deputy Smith had served with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office for four years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-58A1394A- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Howard. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rockford 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 Howard H. Smith is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard H. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Howard H. Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Howard H. Smith is highlighted in Sep.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Winnebago County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
