By Steve Powell / The Marysville Globe
MARYSVILLE — Police Chief Rick Smith always looked happy at City Council meetings when he introduced a new hire and their family.
He was especially proud when he talked about the values of his department: accountability, courage, leadership, integrity and professionalism.
Smith, who sought to instill those values during his 12 years as chief, retires Friday.
His retirement party Wednesday surprised many in the community, including leaders he has worked with over the years. But that followed his leadership style, which often was done behind the scenes. Smith, 56, took over in Marysville as it transitioned from small town to booming suburb.
He realized such growth required innovation in community policing. One of his favorite words became “proactive.” Instead of waiting for crime to happen, Smith and his department started programs that sought to stop crime in its tracks.
Under his watch, the department started its NITE team, which cracked down on drugs, along with code enforcement and a regional property crime unit. He was also instrumental in the city’s popular embedded social worker program, which has received nationwide recognition. Emphasis patrols were placed downtown and at Smokey Point to help clean up those areas.
To encourage residents to help fight crime, the Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch programs developed.
After violence in the Marysville School District, the police department moved to have School Resource Officers.
Crime has continued to drop.
Smith also enjoyed working with the public on events such as National Night Out Against Crime and, more recently, Coffee with a Cop. There have been hard times. The shooting at Marysville Pilchuck High School. When a police officer’s daughter was killed he called it “one of the most difficult things I’ve ever been part of.”
Smith took over as chief for Bob Carden, who left for Visalia, California. Smith had spent 12 years in Vancouver, a city that witnessed similar growth. He was commander of the investigations division and the tactical operations division, investigating major crimes. He also helped establish a regional domestic violence unit. Later he was commander of the department’s east precinct.
Prior to that, Smith, who played some professional baseball, was a deputy with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for six years.
This story originally appeared in The Marysville Globe, a sibling paper to The Herald.
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