Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Smith Kent was killed in a motorcycle crash while attempting to stop a speeding car in the 6300 block of Navigation Boulevard. His police motorcycle struck the side of a truck, causing him to be thrown to the ground. Officer Kent had served with the Houston Police Department for 19 years and had been assigned as a motorcycle officer for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and brother, who was also a Houston police officer.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-067B6FB1- 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.
Police Officer Kent gave the Houston Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kent.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Smith Anderson "Buster" Kent, Jr. 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 TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Houston Police Department, 29 of 117 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Smith Anderson "Buster" Kent, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Smith Anderson "Buster" Kent, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Smith Anderson "Buster" Kent, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
