Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant William Smith and Officer Thomas Ward were shot and killed after responding to the scene of a bank robbery at the Meramec Trust Company, at the intersection of Meramec Street and Virginia Avenue. A passerby had alerted the officers to the robbery and several officers surrounded the building. As the robbers came out, an intense shootout erupted. The getaway driver fled the scene, leaving the three armed men alone. A running gun battle took them to a house on Minnesota Street where the men took refuge in the basement. As officers attempted to surround the house, both Lieutenant Smith and Officer Ward were shot. The three men were eventually apprehended. Officer Ward succumbed to his wounds the following day and Lieutenant Smith succumbed to his wounds one month later. Lieutenant Smith was promoted to Lieutenant one day after he was shot. At the time of the incident, he held the rank of sergeant. The three suspects were convicted of murder. Two were sentenced to life and the other to 30 years. The one sentenced to 30 years was paroled in 1936. Three years later he was convicted of possession of counterfeit money and sentenced to five years in federal prison. One, 23, sentenced to life was paroled on June 27, 1946. The other, age 24, died in a prison hospital on April 12, 1942. He had been employed with the St.
Survivors
Louis Police Department for 28 years and was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-5082D47D- 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
28 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Smith gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant William J. 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Smith is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
