Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Chief Jim Smith was accidentally shot and killed by another officer while struggling with a drunk driving suspect.
Chief Smith and three other officers in his patrol car had pursued the vehicle to Gillam Hill, where they forced it to stop. When Chief Smith approached the driver, the man punched him in the face. A second officer then struck the driver on the head with the butt of his service revolver, which was then discharged. The round struck Chief Smith in the head, killing him.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested and held on a drunk driving charge.
Chief Smith was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, child, five brothers, and five sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-07498EDE- 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 James. 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 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.
Night Chief Smith gave the Barbourville Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Barbourville 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
James Vallard Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Night Chief James Vallard 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 KY, 161 of 983 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.4% of this state's fallen. That is 14.6 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Barbourville Police Department, 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Vallard Smith's cause is highlighted.
How James Vallard Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Vallard Smith is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Barbourville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
