April 2015
COMMUNITY
Spotlight
Police Chief Greg Smith: Out of Retirement, Chief Greg Smith: into Police Out of Retirement, Haymarket Into Haymarket by Patrick Szabo, Haymarket Beat
NEW PARK FOR CHAPMAN-BEVERLY’S MILL W Tin Cannon Brewing Company | Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center hen a veteran police officer takes charge of a small-town police department, change tends to happen fairly quickly. In July of last year, following months of controversy and hostility, Chief James Roop resigned from the Haymarket Police Department. This allowed the Haymarket Town Council to instate Greg Smith, 53, as HPD’s interim chief of police. “I was keeping an eye on something that might interest me,” Smith said about his plans after retirement.
Department. There, he was involved with a project related to staff development and mentoring. According to Smith, the project was coming to a close just as the interim chief position at HPD was developing. It was last summer that Mayor Leake and the Haymarket Town Council approached Smith with the proposition to become interim chief. Not being new to the idea of heading a small-town police department, Smith was initially open to
behind us,” he said. “A lot of [the o had worked here and had done abs nothing wrong but had been forced work under a cloud for a couple yea As he got to know the departm staff, Smith was surprised at what h noticed. “I found the staff very intereste wanting to do the right thing,” he s “They were ripe and eager for some direction and to be able to work in drama-free environment.” In the January Town Council Meeting, Smith even had the police staff retake the Law Enforcement O According to him, this was done to trust in the department. “I thought it was an excellent i said HPD Officer Jake Davis. The HPD staff has been very accepting of Smith’s presence. “He’s able to sit down with eac every one of us and find out what o strengths and weaknesses are,” Dav “He’s a very knowledgeable person. Being an interim position, Smi role as chief with HPD will come to end once a new chief is selected. H decided he will not run for the perm position. “They’ve treated me very, very here, and it’s not anything to do wi that relationship whatsoever,” he sa didn’t retire to take on another full occupation.” Smith will, however, be a part o