Smith began her career with the United States Park Police in 1998 as a patrol officer in the San Francisco Field Office and received numerous commendations for her proactive efforts with drug enforcement, sobriety checkpoints, and community engagement. As she grew her career, she was reassigned to the New York Field Office where she continued her remarkable work ethic and joined the Canine Unit as a Canine Handler in the Explosive Ordinance and Detection Unit. She transitioned to a Senior Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Law Enforcement Driver Training Program in Glynco, GA. She rose through the ranks as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Deputy Chief and was ultimately promoted to Chief of Police, becoming the first African American woman to serve as Chief in the agency’s 230-year history.
As MPD’s Chief Equity Officer, Smith led the department’s efforts on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), making an immediate impact in the department by ensuring DEI issues remain a priority in the department. She developed an organizational channel for department-wide accountability by providing strategic advice to the Chief of Police, executive leadership, and senior management officials within the department. In addition to her DEI focus, she supervised the Directorates for Employee Well Being and Support Unit and Equal Employment Opportunity Office.
