Los Angeles Police Department, California
End of Watch Sunday, August 23, 1925
Add to My HeroesErnest Wylie Smith
Policeman Wylie Smith succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while he and other officers attempted to arrest four bank robbery suspects.
A motorcycle officer pursued the suspects until the men stopped the car and exited. The suspects opened fire on the motorcycle officer and other officers who were arriving on the scene. The motorcycle officer was wounded in the hip, and Policeman Smith suffered a fatal shot to his chest.
One of the suspects was shot and killed, one was wounded, and taken into custody, and two escaped from the scene.
One suspect was captured in San Francisco a few days later and the other suspect was apprehended in Chicago, Illinois, several days later. On January 3, 1926, two of the suspects, 21 and 23, were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. On January 22, 1934, one hanged himself with a bed sheet in his cell at Folsom Prison. The other was denied parole on June 28, 1942.
Policeman Smith was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for two years. He was survived by his mother, three sisters, and a brother.
Bio
- Age 26
- Tour 2 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Saturday, August 22, 1925
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsMore information: https://www.lapdonline.org/lod-officers/wylie-e-smith/
lapdonline.org
Official Site LAPD
November 22, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Jonathan Diller
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: March 25, 2024
Patrolman Justin Hare
New Mexico State Police, NM
EOW: March 15, 2024
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello
Genesee County Sheriff's Office, NY
EOW: March 10, 2024
Border Patrol Agent Christopher Luna
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: March 8, 2024
Trooper Christopher M. Gadd
Washington State Patrol, WA
EOW: March 2, 2024
Officer Cody Allen
Independence Police Department, MO
EOW: February 29, 2024
Police Officer Wisbens Antoine
Knoxville Police Department, TN
EOW: February 25, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Charles Rivette
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: February 21, 2024
Trooper First Class Chase Winston Redner
Georgia State Patrol, GA
EOW: February 20, 2024