Betty Dunn Smothers

Baton Rouge Police Dept. — Baton Rouge, LA

Felonious

End of Watch January 7, 1993

Age 36

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Female

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 26

Incident

Corporal Betty Smothers was shot and killed in an ambush attack while moonlighting as a security guard. Corporal Smothers was in uniform and driving a marked patrol car when she and the store manager went to a bank on Jefferson Highway to make a night deposit. As they sat in the patrol car, three suspects approached and opened fire. They fatally wounded Corporal Smothers and injured the manager. All three suspects were arrested after the incident. The driver was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The shooter and the man who injured the manager were sentenced to death for Corporal Smothers' murder. In 2016, the shooter was resentenced to life in prison, and in 2023, he was denied clemency. Corporal Smothers had served with the Baton Rouge City Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

She is survived by her two daughters and four sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-AC3A0DF7
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 Betty. 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.
Corporal Smothers gave the Baton Rouge Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Smothers.

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

Agency

Department Baton Rouge Police Dept.

Location Baton Rouge, LA

Platform Identity brpd.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 1993

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 36

Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to death

Corporal Betty Dunn Smothers 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baton Rouge Police Dept., 17 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this agency's fallen.

Baton Rouge Police Dept.

of 27 officers

63% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious