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Sergeant William Andrew Smith | Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

Sergeant

William Andrew Smith

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police

End of Watch: Wednesday, August 27, 1930

Bio & Incident Details

Age: Not available

Tour: 7 years

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Location: North Carolina

Incident Date: 8/27/1930

Weapon: Handgun

Suspect: Apprehended

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Sergeant Smith was shot and killed by a hobo in the Milan freight yards in Fayetteville, North Carolina, between 0500 hours and 0600 hours. Sergeant Smith was patrolling the yards before leaving on a train to Rocky Mount when the shooting took place. The suspect was able to flee the scene and on September 3, 1930, shot and killed Detective Lyle Clements, who was also a detective with the railroad, in the Dunlop rail yards in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Detective Clements was shot and killed in a coal car where he discovered the hobo and attempted to arrest him. The man shot Detective Clements four times. Detective Clements was able to return fire and wound the suspect in the leg. After the shooting the suspect threw his body from the moving train. The man was arrested later in the night and confessed to both murders.

Sergeant Smith had been with the agency for seven years and had previously served as a member of the Fayetteville Police Department. He was survived by his wife and two young children.

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Related Line of Duty Deaths

Detective Lyle B. Clements
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 3, 1930
Cause: Gunfire

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Most Recent Reflection

Sgt. Smith, today marks the 77th anniversary of your murder at the hands of some useless bum. We can only hope that he faced true justice, if not in this world, then in the next.

Protecting America’s railroads is not an easy task and has as many risks, if not more than any other police job. Our railroads are one of the things that made America strong and they needed people like you to help keep them safe. My Dad spent five years as a New York Central cop so I have an idea what you face day in and day out. For your efforts, I thank you. You are a hero.

God Bless and may you continue to Rest in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.
August 27, 2007

 

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