Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Clarence Smith died from burns received during a liquor raid at 6205 Quincy Avenue. As they arrived, they saw a woman throw two containers out a window. Patrolman Smith retrieved the containers and found one contained whiskey and the other alcohol. Placing them on a shelf, he then proceeded to guard the two suspects, a husband and wife. Fearing the suspects might try to destroy the evidence, he decided to hold the containers. Just as he was lifting the jug containing the alcohol, the male suspect grabbed a wooden coat hanger and smashed the jug, spilling the contents over a lit stove. Flames burst out, igniting Patrolman Smith. His partner quickly wrapped him in a mattress to extinguish the flames, but in doing so, he received burns to his hands and face. During this time, the two suspects escaped. A third person, sleeping in another room, was arrested. Patrolman Smith was rushed to St. Vincent Charity Hospital in critical condition. Numerous officers gave blood, as did his wife. Four days after the incident, he succumbed to his injuries while his wife was en route to the hospital to give more blood. The man who hit the jug was later convicted. Patrolman Smith was survived by his wife, two sons, a brother, a sister, and parents. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Survivors
Patrolman Smith was survived by his wife, two sons, a brother, a sister, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-66BB6BDB- 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.
Patrolman Smith gave the Cleveland Division of Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Clarence 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 OH, 318 of 991 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 24 of 119 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 20.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence T. Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence T. Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence T. Smith is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
