(Meal provided by Dickey's BBQ)

Jan 08, 2018 12:00 PM

Sheriff Larry Smith

About Larry
Sheriff Larry Smith has enjoyed a 34 year law enforcement career with the Gregg County, Texas Sheriff's Department; United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF).

Law Enforcement Career Began as a Deputy Sheriff on Patrol
Larry began his law enforcement career at the age of 20 as a Sheriff’s Deputy at the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department where he achieved the rank of Captain of the Criminal Investigation Division.

Since September of 1989, Larry has been with ATF and has been stationed in Tyler, where he and his family now call home. Due to Larry’s extensive career in criminal investigation, he has been involved in numerous high profile investigations ranging from burglary, homicide, sex offenses, drug offenses, firearms offenses and explosives related offenses.

Duties, Travels Have Honed Leadership, Team-Building Skills
Since 1997, and until his retirement Larry was assigned as an assistant team leader and member of the ATF National Response Team (NRT) and International Response Team (IRT). The NRT and IRT are responsible for the investigation of large-scale high profile arson and explosives incidents throughout the United States and foreign countries.

Larry has traveled in 48 of the 50 states within the United States, working closely with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. As a result, Larry has had the opportunity to observe and learn management, operations and procedures from the most innovative and pro-active criminal law enforcement agencies in the nation.

Served as Case Agent on Successful Church Fire Investigation
In January of 2010, due to Larry’s vast experience on the ATF National Response Team, he was selected as one of the case agents in the East Texas Church Fire Investigation. Upon the successful completion of that investigation, Larry retired from ATF on January 31, 2011 after 34 years and 4 months of law enforcement service.

Awards Received
Larry was nominated for appointment to West Point Military Academy in 1973 by Congressman Wright Patman. Larry received the Outstanding Peace Officer Award in 1982 with the East Texas Peace Officers Association, and in May 1990, he received the Arial Rios Memorial Award for Leadership, Bureau of ATF. In 1999, Larry received the National Church Arson Task Force award for Leadership from the Bureau of ATF. In 2009, Larry received the Johnny Massengale Memorial Award for Explosives Expertise exhibited in Gerdec, Albania. Larry has also received two Performance Awards from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

Personal
Born in Big Sandy, May 20, 1956. Graduate of New Diana High School where he lettered in four sports.
Turned down an appointment to West Point to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Married 26 years to the former Leslie Leigh Tillery, native of Mobile, Alabama. Larry and Leslie have two children, a son, Landan, and daughter, Lauren.