Robert Patrick Smith

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch April 23, 1980

Age 50

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Badge 5725

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 377

Incident

Police Officer Bob Smith died of a heart attack after a two-block foot chase to help capture a man with a knife who had been threatening parents outside the Gesu Parochial School at 18th and Stiles streets. Officer Smith was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 20 years, assigned to the 23rd District.

Survivors

Officer Smith was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-43AD9398
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Police Officer Smith gave the Philadelphia Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia 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

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Location Philadelphia, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 23, 1980

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 50

Badge Number 5725

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Military Service

Robert Patrick Smith served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Robert Patrick Smith 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 PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 37 of 378 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.8% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

of 378 officers

9.8% Cardiac

PA — Statewide

118

of 1,261 officers

9.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac