James Anthony Smith
Agency patch
Officer

James Anthony Smith

Tucson Police Department — Tucson, AZ
Accident
End of Watch October 28, 1980
Age 33
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer James Smith was killed in a motorcycle crash after another vehicle struck the rear of his patrol motorcycle near Speedway Boulevard and Plumer Avenue. Officer Smith was responding to a report of a collision when he was hit. The impact caused his motorcycle to veer into oncoming traffic, where he was struck head-on by another car. Officer Smith had served with the Tucson Police Department for over seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Officer Smith gave the Tucson Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tucson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Smith.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Tucson, Pima County, AZ
Platform Identity tpd.pima.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 28, 1980
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1980, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Tucson Police Department has 11 officers remembered here, James among them.

VI

Where

Officer James Anthony Smith

Tucson Police Department · End of Watch October 28, 1980

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-W

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