Special Agent

Eldon L. Smith

Felonious
End of Watch August 4, 1932
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Eldon Smith was shot and killed during a shootout with a theft suspect in Hilgrad, Oregon. His body was found adjacent to the railroad tracks suffering from five gunshot wounds. He had also been stabbed and beaten. The suspect was arrested a week later in Seattle, Washington, but escaped before he could stand trial.

Survivors

Agent Smith was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Special Agent Smith served with the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Smith.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Omaha, Douglas County, NE
Platform Identity uprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1932
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Eldon is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Eldon was 35. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Union Pacific Railroad Police Department has 21 officers remembered here, Eldon among them.

VI

Where

Special Agent Eldon L. Smith

Union Pacific Railroad Police Department · End of Watch August 4, 1932

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-E

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