Michael T. Smith
Agency patch
Patrolman

Michael T. Smith

Accident
End of Watch March 11, 1976
Age 24
The Vigil Panel 117 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Michael Smith was killed in a motorcycle crash at Minors Lane and Ireland Drive while attempting to catch up to a speeding motorist.

Another vehicle pulled out in front of his motorcycle, causing a collision.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-FA7DBEF1
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.
Patrolman Smith served with the Jefferson County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.

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

Agency

Location Louisville, KY
Platform Identity jcpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 11, 1976
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Michael T. 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 Jefferson County Police Department, 15 of 20 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Police Department
15
of 20 officers
75% Accident
KY — Statewide
161
of 983 officers
16.4% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael T. 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 Michael T. Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch
24
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael T. Smith is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location