Chief of Police Virgil Smith

Virgil Smith

Chief of Police Virgil Smith was shot and killed inside of the Beattyville police station by a prisoner during an escape attempt.

The prisoner had broken a water pipe in his cell, which caused the jail to begin to flood. As Chief Smith entered the cell to investigate the prisoner attacked him. The man disarmed Chief Smith and then shot him three times, killing him.

The man, who had only been arrested three hours earlier for disorderly conduct, fled from the jail after murdering Chief Smith.

Chief Smith was survived by his wife, father, and sister.