Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Smith succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he was involved in a motorcycle crash on Mill Street. While on patrol, Patrolman Smith's brakes failed, causing him to be propelled over the handlebars into the curb, resulting in brain damage. Patrolman Smith was a United States Army WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He had served with the Belleville Police Department for almost 3 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-1709656D- 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 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.
Patrolman Smith gave the Belleville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Belleville 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
James T. Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman James T. 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 NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 8.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Belleville Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James T. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How James T. Smith Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James T. Smith is highlighted in May.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Belleville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
