LAPD veteran tapped as next GB police chief ------------------------------------------- Paul Srubas December 1, 2015 Yooper and lifelong Packers fan Andrew Smith will be perfectly content to put nearly three decades of Los Angeles behind him when he takes the reins of the Green Bay Police Department next year. "I could not be happier," said Smith, 53, a commander with the Los Angeles Police Department who learned this week that the Green Bay Police & Fire Commission selected him as the city's new police chief. "I always knew some day I'd move home." "I was born in Waukesha, raised in Iron Mountain, Michigan," said Smith, who spent the last 27 years on the Los Angeles force. "Iâm a Yooper. Short of getting a Packers tattoo, I'm 100 percent behind them." The commission announced Tuesday that it had selected Smith over two other candidates, Green Bay Police Capt. Paul Ebel and acting Beloit Chief David Zibolski. The offer is conditional upon Smith satisfying pre-employment requirements - basically passing the physical examination, Human Resources Director Lynn Boland said. He expects to start the new job after the first of the year. "It was an honor going through the process and being selected, especially with the quality of candidates they had," Smith said. Smith expects to build on the community policing strategy the three previous chiefs emphasized. "I'd really like to build on the successes that (Tom) Molitor, (Jim) Lewis and (Jim) Arts had," Smith said. "I've seen the community policing stuff they've done, and I think it's terrific." Early in his career in Los Angeles, Smith was one of the officers selected for bicycle and foot patrol as that department was in the early stages of implementing its community policing strategies. "I saw the value of it there, and I'm convinced it's the only way to really engage with the community and form those partnerships," he said. "Ever since then, in every job I've had (within the LAPD), I've tried that a working on relationships in the community." Green Bay's police issues are sure to be different from those Smith got used to in the nation's second-largest city, but he has no doubt he'll make the transition. "I know it's going to be different from Los Angeles," he said. "I have no intention of turning Green Bay into a Los Angeles substation. They have their way of doing things here and they have a proud tradition in their police department. But for me, when I was growing up, Green Bay was always the big city. We'd always come to town once or twice a year to shop at Port Plaza or to go to the Packer games. I grew up thinking Green Bay was the big city." In the height of efforts to develop community policing, Smith often tried to persuade his Los Angeles colleagues of the value of small-town police concepts. "We always knew who the cops were in our town back home, and I'm hoping my personality hasn't changed that much," he said. Especially nowadays, when police departments all over the nation are finding themselves embroiled in controversies over use of force, it's important to maintain small-town police relationships with the community, he said. "It's important that we all police constitutionally, and by that I mean making sure all things we do pass muster with the Constitution, doing things lawfully and explaining how we do the things we do," he said. "One thing I talked to the Police & Fire Commission about: I've always tried to build up that trust, that reservoir of good will and trust with the different communities here. While we need to recognize that policing can sometimes be unpleasant - I've never seen the use of force as something pleasant to watch, and we know there'll be controversial incidents as we move forward - but it's important for people to know this is a department they can trust, that we'll hold our officers accountable." Police officers themselves prefer to operate that way, too, where they know the policies are strict, uniform and fair, he said. Smith's current job with the LAPD puts him in charge of media relations and community affairs. He was a command and staff officer for the last 14 years. He also has broad experience working with police unions and reached out to members of Green Bay's police union as early as July to learn its concerns and priorities. "The real key is communication," he said. "The union wants what is best for the city, too, and they want to work in a safe, high-functioning community, so their goal is ultimately the same. The key with them is communication, working in partnership. I'm looking forward to that, as well." As commander in Los Angeles, Smith also had to work closely with a city council and mayor who didn't all always agree on the best ways to attack police problems in the city. He expects things to be no different here. "Sure, there have been challenges and some respectful disagreements, but we all ultimately have the same goal," Smith said. Smith looks forward to the challenges of running the department, but on a personal level, he's also just glad to be back in the Midwest. "I'm really looking forward to raising my kids in Green Bay, with Midwest values," he said, citing his son, Conor, 4, and daughter, Katherine, 3. Smith's wife, Susan, is not a Midwesterner but is a native of a small town in northern Montana and so is used to smaller communities as well as cold weather, Smith said. The family has visited Green Bay several times when back in the Midwest to see relatives, he said. Smith loves the outdoors and is an avid jogger. He and his wife, a lawyer and writer, also are voracious readers. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, who got the chance to meet the job candidates Monday, said all were extremely capable. "I am excited to bring Chief Smith in to lead the talented men and women of the Green Bay Police Department," Schmitt said in a statement.