Roll of Honor
Joe Smith, Jr.
Incident
Deputy Joe Smith was shot and killed by a hitchhiker while giving directions to a truck driver around 1:30 a.m. The truck driver had picked up the hitchhiker, a soldier, from nearby Fort Bragg. While Deputy Smith sat in his patrol car at the 401 Truck O'Tel on U.S. 401 south of Fayetteville, the suspect exited the truck and shot him in the head. The suspect then stole Deputy Smith's patrol car and wrecked it while being pursued by police. The suspect fled on foot into a residential area and was captured minutes later. There was no motive for the murder. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison on April 1, 1974. He was paroled on July 8, 1988. Deputy Smith was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-52795360- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Joe is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fayetteville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joe Smith, Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Joe Smith, Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Smith, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joe Smith, Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Smith, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe Smith, Jr. was killed by handgun.
Military Service
Joe Smith, Jr. served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joe Smith, Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cumberland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
