Chief Andrew Smith (GBPD)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith is looking back on his five-year-tenure as the city’s police chief, and a 33-year career in law enforcement.
Smith announced his retirement Tuesday. It will be effective May 3rd.
After spending 27-years with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Iron Mountain, Michigan native made across country to take the top post in Green Bay back in 2015. He says he looks back on the last five years fondly.
“I committed to doing 5 years when I first came here,” recalled Smith on WTAQ’s ‘The Morning News with Matt and Earl’. “We’ve accomplished a lot, we’ve done a lot of really good things and build a lot of really good partnerships. Our crime numbers have been driven down quite nicely.”
When asked if he regrets any part of his tenure, he says struggles with hiring during his term were notable, with fewer people than ever aspiring to be police officers.
“I wish we would’ve been able to do more hiring,” Smith said. “You know, we’ve always been lower than the number of officers we ought to have. I’ve been working hard to try and hire and try and change the diversity on our department.”
Smith says he intends to stay in the Green Bay area despite other departments across the country reaching out to him with possible job openings. He says he has no aspirations for higher office and is looking forward to spending more time with his young children.
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