Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Lieutenant

William Carter Smith

KY State Police — Frankfort, KY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 26, 1973

Age 45

Tour of Duty 24 yrs

Badge 46

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 28

Incident

Lieutenant William Smith died on April 4, 1973, from a gunshot wound he received on November 10, 1972. Lieutenant Smith was attempting to arrest a murder suspect in Warren County, Kentucky, when he was shot. The suspect was arrested, tried, and convicted of Lieutenant Smith's murder. He died in prison. Lieutenant Smith was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Kentucky State Police for 24 years. He was survived by his wife and son, who also served as a Kentucky State Trooper. A portion of US 31 W in Warren County has been designated the Lt. William C. Smith Memorial Highway. He is buried at Fairview Cemetary in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son, who also served as a Kentucky State Trooper.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-65AD5A41
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.

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.
Lieutenant Smith gave the Kentucky State Police 24 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department KY State Police

Type State Police

Location Frankfort, KY

Platform Identity kysp.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1973

Tour of Duty 24 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

William Carter Smith served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Lieutenant William Carter Smith is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At KY State Police, 12 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.4% of this agency's fallen.

KY State Police

of 29 officers

41.4% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious