Born in Kansas
A native of Horton, Ks., he attended high school in Colorado Springs before moving with his family to Los Angeles. He was employed by the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power prior to joining the Culver City Police Dept. on Oct. 1, 1973. He moved steadily up the promotion ladder. Mr. Smith was elevated to the rank of sergeant in July of 1981. His work ethic, his diverse skills and his not-so-mysterious commitment to excellence won him promotion to lieutenant five summers later, in September of 1986. Colleagues within the department remember him as a highly effective manager who, colloquially speaking, had excellent people skills. He was better known for his smile and his sense of humor, possibly, than for his badge. As noted earlier, Mr. Smith’s main legacy with the department may be his record as an efficient, effective narcotics officer and leader of an undercover team. One of his most rewarding assignments was as a DARE officer, working with Culver City schools. Another was Mr. Smith’s time with the Juvenile Division, serving as a mentor and role model for troubled young people in the Outward Bound and Juvenile Diversion programs. Along the way, Mr. Smith graduated from USC’s Delinquency Control Institute, and he earned his Master’s degree from Pepperdine University.
Postscript
After retiring from the department less than three years ago, in December of ’03, Mr. Smith became a leader in union-related welfare causes for retired police and fire officers. He is survived by his wife Melissa and five daughters.
