Roll of Honor

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Marshal

James S. Smith

Starbuck Police Department — Starbuck, WA

Felonious

End of Watch October 19, 1928

Age 56

The Vigil Panel 56 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Marshal Smith was serving a meal in the town jail when he was shot and killed by a prisoner. Another person had smuggled a gun to the prisoner. The suspect was found hiding in an old well four days later in the Snake River Hills. On December 14, 1925, the suspect, 25, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced from 30 to 50 years. The suspect who gave him the gun was charged in connection with the murder,

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-C8BB4A43
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.
Marshal Smith served with the Starbuck Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Starbuck community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Smith.

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

Agency

Department Starbuck Police Department

Location Starbuck, WA

Platform Identity spd.columbia.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 19, 1928

Age 56

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 50 years

Marshal James S. 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Starbuck Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% 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. James S. 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 James S. Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 50 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James S. Smith is highlighted in Oct.

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. James S. Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518