Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Max Smith was shot twice with a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun when he tried to arrest an ex-convict on a warrant for using a gun to threaten a relative earlier in the day. The man Deputy Smith was trying to arrest asked to go to another room of his home to put some oil in a stove. When Deputy Smith went to check on him, the man had the shotgun. Deputy Smith, who was known to never carry a gun in performance of his duties, was shot from behind once as he turned to get into his car. He staggered into a ditch, where he fell. As he got up, the suspect, who was standing on his porch, shot him in the back. When the suspect told a witness to the shooting to accompany him away from the scene, the witness was able to get away on the pretext of needing to get his own car and some clothing. The witness then went into town and notified the sheriff, who arrested the suspect. The suspect surrendered when he saw that the sheriff was holding an automatic shotgun under his arm. Deputy Smith was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died about two hours after the shooting. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Survivors
Deputy Smith was survived by his three brothers and one sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-98796D6E- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Smith served with the Moniteau County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the California community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Max W. 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 Moniteau County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Max W. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Max W. Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Max W. Smith is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Max W. Smith was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Moniteau County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
