Hanford PD loans top captain to Lemoore Police to fill void left by Laws move to city manager

Capt. Darrell Smith, 48, has agreed to take on the chief’s role until a new chief can be found for the Lemoore Police Department. According to Smith, the Hanford Police Department is “loaning” him out to Lemoore.

He is expected to begin Wednesday pending the Lemoore City Council’s approval of Laws’ new city manager’s contract, which will be discussed at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Councilmembers voted at their last meeting to offer the full-time job to Laws. Only Councilmember Eddie Neal vote against the proposal.

Smith is a 1983 Lemoore High School graduate and has been with the Hanford Police Department for 23 years, his entire career. He currently is listed on the Hanford PD’s website as head of investigations but also works with the Narcotics Task Force.

Smith is obviously attached to Lemoore, having attended Lemoore High School. "I see Lemoore as a great community," he said. "It's also a very safe community."

He also has worked closely with Chief Laws and says the Lemoore Police Department has "great people working there."

Smith also indicated that at some point he hopes to obtain a leadership role at a police department, and he knows there will always be leadership opportunities in Hanford. However, he doesn't rule out the top job in Lemoore. "If the opportunity were to arise, I might consider it," he said.