Garner, NC Police Chief Lorie Smith is set to hang up her badge come the first of May after dedicating 30 years to law enforcement, all of which were spent serving her local community. The announcement came via a press release from the Garner Police Department, confirming Smith's departure. Chief Smith's career, marked by her roles as the first female lieutenant, captain, and finally, the police chief of the department, was not merely a series of personal achievements but a commitment to public service and community betterment.
During her tenure, Smith rose through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer in 1997, before being promoted to sergeant in 2004, then to lieutenant, and finally to captain, before assuming leadership as chief in December 2021. She was known to tirelessly advocate for her colleagues, aiming to inspire them to consistently pursue, and even persevere through adversity, to achieve their highest goals. "I hope that my achievements during my career will inspire others to work hard and persevere through difficult challenges to achieve their goals,” she shared, according to the Garner Police Department's announcement.
Throughout her career, Chief Smith was involved in various aspects of law enforcement, including commanding the Criminal Investigations Division as a lieutenant and overseeing the Administration Bureau as a captain. She was also charged with the department's internal affairs and managed the annual budget. Before her tenure as chief, she supervised the Operations Bureau, which included the Patrol, Support Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions.
Community engagement was a driving force for Chief Smith. She worked actively with local educational programs and community reading initiatives, knowing that building and nurturing relationships are crucial for a thriving neighborhood. Chief Smith stated, "The relationships I developed and nurtured over the years helped build a strong sense of community where people genuinely care about and come together to support each other.” This sentiment reflected Smith’s dedication to fostering a link between the police force and the Garner community, which ultimately seeks to engender mutual respect and cooperation, as per the Garner Police Department.
After closing this long and distinguished chapter, Chief Smith's legacy is expected to leave a lasting impact on the Garner Police Department and the community she served. In recognition of her work, she expressed gratitude to those who had guided her path: “I will forever be grateful for the great role models and mentors who believed in, encouraged and supported me throughout my career,” Chief Smith said, as reported by the Garner Police Department's official release.
