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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Carlton Smith was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle for speeding at the Goodpasture Island Road and Delta Highway interchange. During the stop, two suspects exited the vehicle and shot him seven times. The suspects were parolees who had absconded from supervision. Two days earlier, the pair robbed a Tigard, Oregon, motel and raped the owner. The next day they robbed a Portland bank. After they killed Deputy Smith, they kidnapped a woman and her 12-year-old son and forced them to drive to Marion Forks where they stole a truck and took four more people hostage. The suspects then drove to Sacramento, California, where they released all six hostages unharmed. The next day they broke into a Sacramento home, kidnapped a couple, and forced them along with their 19-month-old daughter, to drive them to Nevada. They later released them unharmed and surrendered to police. Both suspects were convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping and sentenced to two life terms. On May 17th, 1974, one of the suspects escaped from the Oregon Penitentiary. He fled to Washington with a pair of elderly hostages whom he killed near Spokane. Four weeks later he was shot and critically wounded by a police officer near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, after a standoff. He received two life sentences for murdering the elderly couple and a 75-year term for kidnapping. He died in prison on April 27th, 2005. The other suspect died in prison on September 21st, 2004. Deputy Smith had served with the Lane County Sheriff's Department for only two weeks and had previously served with the Springfield Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife and six children. One of his sons went on to also serve with the Lane County Sheriff's Department. Another son also became a police officer.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Lane County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Eugene 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
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Lane County Sheriff's Department has lost 7 officers; 5 of them killed feloniously.
Carlton is one of 115 officers killed feloniously in OR, 58.4% of the 197 remembered there.
Carlton is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Carlton is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1965, 1 officer at Lane County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1965, 1 officer in OR was killed feloniously, the 32nd heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 5.
In 1965, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1965, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Carlton was 33. Of the 4 killed feloniously at Lane County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 40.5; the middle age was 38. Carlton had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Carlton was 33. Of the 97 killed feloniously in OR whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 51; the middle age was 43. Carlton had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Carlton was 33. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Carlton had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Carlton was 33. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Carlton had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 40% of these deaths at Lane County Sheriff's Department, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 20%.
July holds 5.2% of these deaths in OR; November holds the most, 12.2%. Tuesdays: 13%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.4% of all 7 deaths at Lane County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 40% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58.4% of all 197 deaths in OR, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 21.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Lane County Sheriff's Department has 7 officers remembered here, Carlton among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Lane County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
