Recognition of Service for Jackson Police Chief Todd Smith.
At the Monday evening Town Council Meeting, Vice Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson read a proclamation of Recognition of Service for Chief Smith, who announced his retirement after 29 years of public Service.
Thank you Chief. You will be missed. You have left Jackson a better place than you found it.
WHEREAS, Chief Todd Smith has served the Jackson Hole community and the Town organization for a total of twenty-nine years; the last eleven years he served as our Chief of Police, after climbing the ranks of Interim Chief, Patrol Sergeant, Corporal, Detective, and Community Service Officer; and
WHEREAS, Todd Smith also served on the Community Prevention Coalition of Teton County, the K9 Auxiliary Board, Citizens Mounted Unit Board, and Central Wyoming College Criminal Justice Advisory Board, as well as representing the Town of Jackson with professionalism and competency, with the Prevention Management Organization, who are committed to reducing underage substance abuse and suicide, on the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy Board overseeing fitness standards for all Wyoming Peace Officers, and partnered with the IACP Mountain Towns Chiefs of Police; and
WHEREAS, Todd Smith has set an example for others through his leadership and efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community, by his outgoing community engagement efforts, and by his leadership; and
WHEREAS, Chief Todd Smith was pivotal during the past decade by proactively leading the Jackson Police Department in developing and implementing policies aimed at reducing unnecessary injury and death to citizens, including the “reasonable officer” standard, requiring officers to wear body cameras, and the five “8 Can’t Wait” policies that best-address Jackson’s current law enforcement situation including a ban on chokeholds in non-deadly force encounters; requiring de-escalation when feasible; making it the duty of an officer to intervene to stop another officer’s unlawful use of force; banning shooting at moving vehicles (unless deadly force is authorized); and requiring comprehensive use-of-force reporting; and
WHEREAS, under Todd Smith’s leadership the Jackson Police Department has also adopted to its current law enforcement protocols situation, the remaining three “8 Can’t Wait” policies including allowing warning shots when feasible and exhausting all alternatives before shooting; and
WHEREAS, Chief Todd Smith attended and graduated from the FBI National Academy, a very prestigious honor, and in so doing brought back to the Jackson Hole Community cutting edge ideas, leadership tactics, and community engagement concepts that were infused into his leadership of the Jackson Police Department and only served to improve and elevate the standards and examples set by the Jackson Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Chief Smith helped lead the Town of Jackson organization during our mission, purpose and values development and has also led, and empowered the Jackson Police Department to continually strive to receive the best training, and values and ethics development available; and
WHEREAS, Chief Smith was part of the team that developed, implemented, and maintains the current mission of the Town of Jackson’s Police Department to preserve life, protect property, and maintain the peace through a responsible application of the law; and
WHEREAS, Chief Todd Smith was always available to listen, provide advice, and serve as a sounding board to other directors and members of his command staff when they needed to explore ideas, or just to vent frustrations; and
WHEREAS, staff members close to Todd, felt and feel special because they know Todd truly cares about others and was always there to lend a helping hand, like hosting a Christmas Tree cutting party at his house, joining in employee celebrations and recognition, would bend over backwards to help members of his law enforcement team succeed, and would give the shirt off his back to help others; and
WHEREAS, Todd was always quick to give credit where credit was due, recognizing others for their work and achievements, over the pursuit of recognition for himself; and
WHEREAS, Chief Smith’s leadership as part of the senior management team of the Town of Jackson, his service on multiple committees, boards and task forces, and his leadership of the Jackson Police Department will be truly missed; and
WHEREAS, ESPECIALLY EVIDENT during the COVID-19 pandemic, Todd exhibited solid, sound leadership imperative in protecting the health, safety and welfare of the Jackson community; and
WHEREAS, without public-minded citizens such as Chief Todd Smith and their passion for public service, their political acumen for carefully but effectively addressing law enforcement issues in a resort community, local governments such as ours would be very challenged to deliver the services that our community demands and deserves; and
WHEREAS, Chief Todd Smith has announced his retirement effective August 23, 2020.