Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Thomas Smith was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a wanted subject near Cleveland in Aroostook County.
The man was a known violent criminal, and Deputy Smith had been searching for him for several weeks. He learned that the man may be hiding in a barn near Long Lake in Aroostook County. He and two assistants located the man hiding beneath a pile of hay in the barn. As Deputy Smith grabbed the man's pistol, the subject pulled out a dirk and stabbed Deputy Smith in the leg several times, severing an artery.
One of Deputy Smith's assistants then shot and wounded the man before taking him into custody. Deputy Smith bled to death within 10 minutes.
The subject was charged with Deputy Smith's murder but died of Typhoid fever in September 1864 while awaiting trial.
Deputy Smith was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Deputy Smith was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ME-2395713F- 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
162 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Smith served with the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bangor community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Thomas 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 ME, 43 of 102 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.2% of this state's fallen. That is 12 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Penobscot County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Died awaiting trial
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Smith is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Smith was killed by edged weapon; dirk.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Penobscot County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
