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Deputy Town Marshal

Willie Smith

Manchester Police Department — Manchester, KY

Felonious

End of Watch April 26, 1937

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 73 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Town Marshal Willie Smith was shot and killed while attempting to take a subject into custody for a competency hearing. He had gone to the man's home with two sheriff's deputies but was ambushed when the subject stepped from behind a tree and opened fire with a shotgun. The man later turned himself in.

The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years.

Deputy Marshal Smith was survived by his wife and several children.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Smith was survived by his wife and several children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-43E65F6A
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 Town Marshal Smith served with the Manchester Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Manchester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Town Marshal Smith.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Manchester Police Department

Location Manchester, KY

Platform Identity mpd.clay.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1937

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Sentenced to 21 years

Deputy Town Marshal Willie Smith 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Manchester Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Manchester Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willie Smith's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Willie Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 21 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willie Smith is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willie Smith was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Manchester Police Department are honored on badge.nw.