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 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 others escaped from the scene.
The other two suspects were apprehended in Chicago, Illinois, several days later. Two of the suspects 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.
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

Master Patrol Officer Clarence "CJ" Williams
Cairo Police Department, GA
EOW: January 28, 2023

Supervisory Officer Jacqueline Montanaro
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: January 14, 2023

Police Officer Carl Douglas Kimball
St. Francisville Police Department, LA
EOW: January 12, 2023

Deputy Sheriff Darnell Calhoun
Riverside County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 13, 2023

Court Services Officer Curtis Matthew Worland
Alaska State Troopers, AK
EOW: December 13, 2022

Chief of Police Justin McIntire
Brackenridge Borough Police Department, PA
EOW: January 2, 2023

Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Cordero
Riverside County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: December 29, 2022

Corporal Ray Charles Hamilton
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: December 24, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Corey D. McElroy
Garrett County Sheriff's Office, MD
EOW: December 21, 2022