Michael Joseph Bernard Smith
Agency patch
Police Officer

Michael Joseph Bernard Smith

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Felonious
End of Watch August 11, 1976
Age 32
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 936
The Vigil Panel 117 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Smith and Officer Roger Brown were killed when their cruiser was intentionally hit head-on by a suspect fleeing from other officers. The suspect was also killed in the accident. Officer Smith had been with the agency for four years.

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.
Police Officer Smith gave the Columbus Division of Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Smith.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 11, 1976
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number 936
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1976, 137 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 32. 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. Michael had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years

Police Officer Michael Joseph Bernard Smith

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch August 11, 1976

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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