Hubert J. Smykowski, Sr.

Garfield Heights Police Department — Garfield Heights, OH

Cardiac

End of Watch October 5, 1976

Age 45

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Badge 13

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Bert Smykowski suffered a fatal heart attack following a foot pursuit and a struggle with a suspect. Patrolman Smykowski and his partner had responded to the scene of a hit-and-run where a car had struck the front of a house. Officer Smykowski located two men matching the suspects' descriptions and attempted to stop them. He chased one of the men into a nearby house and struggled with him. As he was walking the suspect to his car, he collapsed. Patrolman Smykowski had served with the Garfield Heights Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-6C5B5766
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 Smykowski gave the Garfield Heights Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Garfield Heights community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smykowski.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Garfield Heights Police Department

Location Garfield Heights, OH

Platform Identity ghpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 5, 1976

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 45

Badge Number 13

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Patrolman Hubert J. Smykowski, Sr. is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OH, 43 of 991 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.3% of this state's fallen. That is 0.3 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Garfield Heights Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Garfield Heights Police Department

of 4 officers

25% Cardiac

OH — Statewide

of 991 officers

4.3% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac