Eldon L. Smith
Agency patch
Special Agent

Eldon L. Smith

Felonious
End of Watch August 4, 1932
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Eldon Smith was shot and killed during a shootout with a theft suspect in Hilgrad, Oregon. His body was found adjacent to the railroad tracks suffering from five gunshot wounds. He had also been stabbed and beaten. The suspect was arrested a week later in Seattle, Washington, but escaped before he could stand trial.

Survivors

Agent Smith was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-1747C36B
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.
Special Agent Smith served with the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Smith.

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

Agency

Location Omaha, NE
Platform Identity uprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1932
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber
Offender Arrested and escaped

Special Agent Eldon L. Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 10 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Union Pacific Railroad Police Department, 13 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this agency's fallen.

Union Pacific Railroad Police Department
13
of 21 officers
61.9% Felonious
NE — Statewide
97
of 151 officers
64.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eldon L. Smith's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Eldon L. Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Arrested and escaped

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eldon L. Smith is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eldon L. Smith was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location