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Patrolman

Billy Gene Smelley

Quinlan Police Department — Quinlan, TX

Felonious

End of Watch September 18, 1983

Age 45

Tour of Duty 10 mo

The Vigil Panel 127 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Billy Smelley succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained ten days earlier when a prisoner gained control of another officer's weapon inside the police station at 104 Main Street and shot both officers. Patrolman Smelley had arrested the subject for DWI and was in the process of booking him when the incident occurred. He succumbed to his wound while being transported to the hospital. The subject committed suicide outside of the police station. Patrolman Smelley had served with the Quinlan Police Department for 10 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-87E89920
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 Smelley served with the Quinlan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Quinlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Smelley.

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

Agency

Department Quinlan Police Department

Location Quinlan, TX

Platform Identity qpd.hunt.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 18, 1983

Tour of Duty 10 mo

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Patrolman Billy Gene Smelley 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Quinlan Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% 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. Billy Gene Smelley'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 Billy Gene Smelley Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.8

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Gene Smelley is highlighted in Sep.

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. Billy Gene Smelley was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518