Tom Smith, Possible St Paul Police Chief

by: Grace Kelly

Mon Feb 08, 2010 at 15:32:14 PM CST

Tom Smith believes that great police officers come from integrity, moral character and compassion. Tom believes in volunteerism and giving back. I especially liked Tom's description that the primary role of police was to be peace keepers. What sets Tom Smith apart is his comfort in a public role, for both traveling and speaking. Tom Smith places emphasis on transparency, on keeping the public informed through the media. And indeed, it is obvious that Tom has a gift of story telling.

From a long interview, I have created two videos. The first describes the heroes, the background and the experiences of Tom Smith. The second interview gets into the tougher questions of being police chief such as "How does one balance loyalty and accountability?"

Just to note that in the process of editing, many pieces of the interview have to be left out on the cutting room floor. Tom Smith's heroes include his parents, Colin Powell and Abraham Lincoln, although the video piece covers Abraham Lincoln. Every officer always mentions the death of other officers in the impacts of their careers. So just because something is missing, does not mean it was not said.

All St Paul internal candidates have great training in multiple assignments to prepare them for leadership. So to avoid long recitations in the video, I am including a list provided by Tom Smith here:

Community Associations & Professional Organizations

Member Board of Directors-Neighborhood House Association (2nd Term)

Board member Midway Chamber of Commerce since 2005

Volunteer, Boy's & Girl's Club of America

Co-Lead Humboldt High School At-Risk Youth Mentor Program

Led effort with District Councils Seven & Eight, Bethel College, and numerous neighborhood volunteers to continue the funding for the Shop With Cop's program.

African American Leadership Council

Westside Youth Task Force Member

Developed partnership between Neighborhood House & Sibley Plaza for joint police store front for East African families.

Organized St. Paul Somali Advisory Council (2004).

Partner with 17 District Councils in St. Paul.

God Squad Partnership

Assisted in developing over 800 block clubs while in Force Unit.

Member NAACP St. Paul Chapter.

Member FBI National Academy Associates.

Member International Association of Chief's of Police.

Member FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association.

Personal

Master's Degree in Education & Leadership, University of St. Thomas

Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Metropolitan State University

Graduate of 186th Session of the FBI National Academy (1996)

Graduate of FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Academy (2007)

Graduate Wilder Foundations James P. Shannon Leadership program (2009)

Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach-Westside Boy's & Girl's Club

Volunteer Neighborhood House Association

2009 Cinco de Mayo Grand Marshall

2005 FBI Associates Midwest National Academy Conference (Host)

Mentor At-Risk Youth programming

Counter Terrorism Training (Trip to Middle East)

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) participant

Medal of Valor Award Recipient

Homeland Security Training & Certificates

Police History

1989 Police Officer

1990 Selby Beat Officer

1992 First member department Force Unit

1994 Sergeant Force Unit

1996 Sergeant Proactive Juvenile Gang Unit

1997 Lead Inspector, Office of the Chief

1998 Patrol Supervisor and Weed and Seed Coordinator

1999 Lieutenant/Commander Western District

2000 Commander-Central District

2001 Acting Senior Commander, Central District (four months)

2002 Training Unit Commander

2003 SWAT Team and Western District Commander

2004 Senior Commander Western District & SWAT Commander

2006 to present, Assistant Chief of the Operation's Division

If you liked this article, you might like my series of articles that I have been writing about police chief candidates, sheriff candidates and local police culture:

Todd Axtell, Possible St Paul Police Chief

Colleen Luna, Possible St Paul Chief

St Paul Police: Deposits in the Bank of Trust

St Paul Chief Harrington Will Not Seek 2nd Term

Matt Bostrom For Ramsey County Sheriff  Formal Annoucement

Matt Bostrom For Ramsey County Sheriff Pending Formal Annoucement

Key East Side Endorsement For Matt Bostrom, Ramsey County Sheriff

Matt Bostrom: Charm of Small Parties to Meet Candidatest  

A Google Look at New Candidate for Ramsey County Sheriff: Laura Goodman

Matt Bostrom For Ramsey County Sheriff Gets Another Endorsement

Militaristic Style Policing Destroys Communities

Community-Partnered Policing Builds Communities