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Arlo F. Smith
Incident
Sergeant Arlo Smith was accidentally shot and killed by an Illinois Central Railroad special agent who mistook him for a suspect in the Terminal Railroad rail yards in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The agents were searching the yards for suspected boxcar thieves. Sergeant Smith was searching the area with a flashlight and was shot when he shined the flashlight on the other agent.
Sergeant Smith was survived by his parents. His father was the Chief Special Agent of the Terminal Railroad Police Department at the time of the shooting.
Survivors
Sergeant Smith was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Sergeant Smith served with the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department has lost 6 officers; 1 of them lost to accidents.
Arlo is one of 224 officers lost to accidents in MI, 31.9% of the 703 remembered there.
Arlo is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Arlo is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1935, 3 officers in MI were lost to accidents, the 16th heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 8.
In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1935, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Arlo was 30. Of the 212 lost to accidents in MI whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 43; the middle age was 34.
Arlo 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.
Arlo was 30. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
September holds 7.6% of these deaths in MI; August holds the most, 14.3%. Mondays: 13.8%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.4%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 16.7% of all 6 deaths at Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.9% of all 703 deaths in MI, 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 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department has 6 officers remembered here, Arlo among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
