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Incident
Captain Smith was killed in an automobile accident when the police wagon he was riding in skidded onto a curb and overturned at Twenty-Eighth Street and Washington Avenue. He and other officers were returning to the police station with a prisoner after leaving a disturbance at Arcade Apartments on Huntington Avenue. The two officers and prisoner riding with Captain Smith escaped serious injuries in the accident.
Survivors
Captain Smith had served with the Newport News Police Department for less than seven and a half years and was survived by his wife, and son.
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.
Captain Smith gave the Newport News Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newport News community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Newport News Police Department has lost 12 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Robert is one of 203 officers lost to accidents in VA, 31.1% of the 653 remembered there.
Robert is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Robert is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1919, 1 officer at Newport News Police Department was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 4 years on record. The heaviest was 1961, with 2.
In 1919, 4 officers in VA were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1870, with 10.
In 1919, 51 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 94th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1919, 55 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 96th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Robert was 30. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Newport News Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 31; the middle age was 30. Robert had served 7.3 years; the middle length of service was 7.3 years.
Robert was 30. Of the 192 lost to accidents in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 45; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 7.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Robert was 30. 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. Robert had served 7.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Robert was 30. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Robert had served 7.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 60% of these deaths at Newport News Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 20%.
June holds 10.3% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 12.8%. Wednesdays: 15.3%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 41.7% of all 12 deaths at Newport News Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.1% of all 653 deaths in VA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Newport News Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Robert among them.
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Robert Hitchman Smith
Jun 11, 1919
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Robert Hayes DeKorte
Sep 23, 1921
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Weldon Olen Bass
Sep 25, 1933
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Claude Thomas Parks
Sep 10, 1943
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Charles Nelson Doughty
Aug 11, 1946
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Courtney Wayne Cook
Jun 24, 1961
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Clarence Eugene Small
Jun 24, 1961
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Wallace Earl Nesbitt
Jan 8, 1970
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Dennis Jerome Roberts
Mar 20, 1981
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Steven Robert Rutherford
Jan 12, 1994
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Larry Douglas Bland
May 13, 1994
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Katherine Mary Thyne
Jan 23, 2020
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Newport News Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
