Lemoore City Council makes it official, swears in new police chief, Darrell Smith

Smith, 48, has been the interim chief since Laws was named the city manager a couple of months ago. Originally he was on loan from the City of Hanford’s Police Department, but in an earlier interview with The Leader, indicated that if offered the department’s top job, he would certainly consider it - which he has.

Laws confirmed that he had in fact recommended to the council that it hire Smith to run the department full time. “I think he’s a good guy,” said Laws. “He’s got 24 years of law enforcement experience,” which he brings to the job.

Laws characterized Smith as a “standup guy” who just wants to get the job done. Laws says Smith brings with him a diversity of experience having worked in just about every field including narcotics, gangs, Swat team, and administration.

Smith, who lives in Lemoore with wife Maryanne and kids Ryan and Kyle, both girls, is indeed looking forward to the challenge. The 1983 Lemoore High School graduate says he has fit in nicely with the department’s staff and officers.

“I’m really excited,” said Smith. “When I came over here I always had the intention of getting the job.”

He said he’s enjoyed his interim tenure and looks forward to the upcoming challenge. “I’m impressed with the people of Lemoore. The Police Department is a very professional organization,” he added, “and I have plenty of ideas and plans.”

He is a big advocate of community-oriented policing and plans to continue it in Lemoore. He’s also been impressed with the city’s Volunteers in Policing which he says put in over 6,000 hours last year.

His main goal is to keep Lemoore safe. “We have to be vigilant to keep it that way,” he said. 

Smith, who was a Police Explorer in high school, says he really didn’t plan a career in law enforcement at an early age, but is glad it gravitated that way. “I never thought I would be the Chief of Police of Lemoore.”