Sheriff announces reelection bid

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced Thursday evening that he will seek another term, according to our news partner KETK. He shared the news during his 70th birthday celebration surrounded by family, friends, law enforcement officials and community members. Larry Smith is a veteran of more than three decades in law enforcement, beginning his career with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in 1976. During his eleven years there, he advanced from Criminal Investigator to Lieutenant and ultimately Captain of the Criminal Investigation Division.

He continued his service at the federal level as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration before joining the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 1989. Over the next 22 years, he served as a Criminal Investigator specializing in fire, explosives and forensic mapping, and worked as a Task Force Team Leader on national and international response operations. Throughout his career, Smith completed more than 8,200 hours of advanced investigative training in areas such as fire, homicide, explosives, sex crimes and management. He also provided over 1,200 hours of instruction to state, local, and federal agencies, teaching explosives post?blast procedures, fire investigation, interview techniques and clandestine drug investigation.