Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy DeWitt Smith was shot and killed as he Sheriff Standefar investigated a hit-and-run accident. The officers had received information about the whereabouts of the vehicle involved in the accident and after a short chase stopped the vehicle and the three suspects who were believed to be involved in auto theft in several towns. Sheriff Standefar ordered two of the suspects into his patrol car, and one of the suspects to follow in their car. When Deputy Smith got into the back seat of the patrol car one of the suspects pulled a weapon and fired into the car. The bullet his Deputy Smith, who returned fire and hit the suspect four times, killing him. The second suspect in the car attempted to shoot the sheriff but his gun jammed and he escaped on foot; third suspect attended to Deputy Smith while the Sheriff went for help. Deputy Smith was taken to the hospital in Morton where he died an hour later. The two surviving suspects were apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. Deputy Smith had been with the agency for just under four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-E7E4E233- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Cochran County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Morton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff DeWitt Talmage 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 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%.
At Cochran County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. DeWitt Talmage Smith's cause is highlighted.
How DeWitt Talmage Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. DeWitt Talmage Smith is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. DeWitt Talmage Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cochran County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
