SGT. JIM SMITH MEMORIAL...Remembering 462

If you would like to donate to our Hero Center (Community & Event Center) in Jim's honor, please click on the link.  What might the Hero Center include?

Multi purpose full court basketball gym & possible multisport capabilities, community game room, offices, classrooms/meeting rooms, coffee shop/dining & lounge areas, exercise equipment, outside park structure, outdoor pavilion for events, and kitchen facilities.

State Highway 150 is memorialized as the “Sgt. Jim Smith Memorial Highway” to show appreciation for Jim's service to the State of Iowa, Fifteen (15) signs were installed along Hwy 150 from Urbana to Calmar, Iowa.  This project was possible because of the generosity of the Hamilton County Peace Officers Association , Give Blue Hope, and many others.  A special thank you to Dewey Hupke for not only creating this project but also for getting approval from every city/county to make it happen.

This small drone is capable of being flown indoors to clear buildings and confined areas that need to be searched in a safe and effective way. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received this drone in late November 2024 and officially put it into service.

This drone is called “Air 4”. To honor Sergeant Smith’s memory, it will be referred to as “Air 4(62)” to honor Sergeant Smith’s badge number, 462. 

This is the new Iowa State Patrol Transport Plane. N462JS.  Number 462 Jim Smith.  What an incredible tribute to Jim.

We are thankful to the Iowa State Patrol and the Department of Transportation for organizing this bridge dedication project in memory of Jim. We are also grateful to the Iowa State Patrol Trooper’s Association, the Iowa State Patrol Supervisor’s Association, and the Iowa State Patrol Retiree’s Association for purchasing the signs. These signs will serve as a reminder of Jim’s sacrifice and dedication to protect and serve, not only this community, but the entire state of Iowa. Jim lived a life of service to God, the State Patrol, and those around him.

Saving a Hero's Place traveled to Iowa in July 2023 to build an honor chair for Jim with the participation of his fellow officers and family.  It was placed at the ISP HQ in Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information about Saving a Hero's place and their mission... https://savingaherosplace.org/our-story/

The mission of this project was to improve the entrance to the Independence Stadium. The entryway was relocated with a new ticket booth. Two distinct memorial sections were created for both Coach Lyle Leinbaugh and Sergeant Jim Smith. There is a new mustang statue located in the memorial section for Jim. 

The Oelwein Police Department honored Jim and Ted Benda when they made these beautiful updates to the outside of their buildings. 

This memorial tree was planted in Jim's memory in 2021. It is located at ISP Post 13 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in the area he was stationed when he first became an Iowa State Trooper in 1993. The tree was donated by Egli Landscaping, Inc. and plaque was donated by Whitney Monument Works.

The bill includes a provision named after Jim. The provision expands access to existing grant funding to multijurisdictional task forces, which will help law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle violent crimes that cross multiple jurisdictions.