Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Hans Smith succumbed to injuries sustained almost one month earlier when he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic. As Sergeant Smith was waited for a trolley, a driver, who said he was blinded by the oncoming trolley's lights, swerved to the left to avoid it and struck Sergeant Smith. Originally it was reported that Sergeant Smith only suffered a broken right arm and leg. However, it was later determined there were also internal injuries, to which Sergeant Smith succumbed to on September 16, 1930. The driver of the vehicle was indicted for reckless driving. No further information is available. Sergeant Smith had served in the Portland Police Department for 30 years (1895-1900, then 1905 until the time of his death).
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, three sisters, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-ME-731090EA- 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 Hans. 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
30 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Smith gave the Portland Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Hans P. 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 ME, 41 of 102 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40.2% of this state's fallen. That is 9.2 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Portland Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hans P. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Hans P. Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Hans P. Smith is highlighted in Sep.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Portland Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
