Gary G. Smith was in Emporia on Friday, and the candidate for police chief could reach an agreement with the city to take the job early next week.
City Manager Matt Zimmerman said he met with Smith for about half an hour on Friday. Zimmerman said the meeting concerned a “personnel issue.”
“There’s a few more details we’re trying to get wrapped up,” Zimmerman said. “Hopefully, we’ll know something next week, when we wrap up those details.”
The city manager said he considers Smith to be as good a candidate as Clark Morrow, who accepted the job last week, then withdrew his acceptance on Monday citing family reasons.
“He’s worked his way up through the ranks,” Zimmerman said of Smith. “He has a master’s degree in addition to his bachelor’s degree. He’s a graduate of the FBI academy... I think he can be a good fit in our community and provide some good, wide-ranging experience.”
Smith is currently the police chief in Northfield, Minn., where he has been on a medical leave of absence since July.
justthinkin (anonymous) says...
? - Do these applicants go through all the same steps as Police Officer recruits ? Such as background, polygraph, drug screen, physical ?
December 1, 2007 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
you would think so, but who knows. anybody with a gun and badge should be expected to be just as capable/reliable as the next whether they are chief or patrolman.
another question to pose. does he have to attend the academy to be a qualified police officer in kansas?
December 1, 2007 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smith_ron (anonymous) says...
I can't help but wonder if this is the chief we want after reading the following. Perhaps the Gazette could investigate...
"A tumultuous chapter in the Northfield Police Department's history may soon end with the departure of Police Chief Gary Smith for the top police job in Emporia, Kan.," according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
http://www.startribune.com/south/story/1...
December 1, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smith_ron (anonymous) says...
Here is the text of the story from the Star-Tribune
Northfield police chief is finalist for Kansas job
A tumultuous chapter in the Northfield Police Department's history may soon end with the departure of Police Chief Gary Smith for the top police job in Emporia, Kan.
By Sarah Lemagie, Star Tribune
Last update: November 30, 2007 – 8:22 PM
A tumultuous chapter in the Northfield Police Department's history may soon end with the departure of Police Chief Gary Smith for the top police job in Emporia, Kan.
The offer isn't official and there are still details to be hammered out, but Smith is the sole finalist for the position, Emporia City Manager Matt Zimmerman said Friday.
Smith drew criticism from many Northfield leaders this summer for a July 3 news conference at which he said that up to 250 local youths were on heroin or another dangerous narcotic. Two weeks later, he took an unexpected leave of absence for what he has since described as medical reasons. He underwent three surgeries this fall to treat sleep apnea and numbness in his hands. He remains on leave.
The Emporia job would mean overseeing a department about twice as big as Northfield's and a chance to be closer to relatives in Nebraska and Arkansas, Smith said. The city of 26,000 (compared with Northfield's 18,000) is home to Emporia State University.
Smith said he applied for the Emporia job in early July, before he went on leave.
He would have to give 30 days' written notice to leave Northfield city employment in good standing. He said he'll wait to hear from his doctors before committing to a starting date in Kansas.
Sarah Lemagie • 612-673-7557
Sarah Lemagie • slemagie@startribune.com
© 2007 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
December 1, 2007 at 2:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cliffy (anonymous) says...
I would think the city can proceed with an investigation of Mr. Smith. He may be a fine candidate however if they fail to send someone to Northfield, they are not doing the job right.
December 1, 2007 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tmac (anonymous) says...
I hope Chief Smith is a good fit for Emporia. However, the story posted above worries me a little. Perhaps the Gazette could investigate and give us the rest of the story. At the very least, a reporter should ask for the city's response to the issue outlined in the story.
December 1, 2007 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthinkin (anonymous) says...
With all the concern noted in these forums, how much community trust, let alone departmental trust, will Mr. Smith have. Or, is he fighting an uphill battle before he even starts. Is that fair to him? I for one am very concerned from all I've read. I hope Mr. Zimmerman is listening, but then, I'm beginning to wonder if Mr. Zimmerman listens or always believes he knows what is right for a community he has only been part of for a very short time. Some times, you have to stand back, look & listen before you impose your beliefs on those that have been here, done this.
December 1, 2007 at 6:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EsqEB (anonymous) says...
The Gazette does not believe in investigative journalism.
December 3, 2007 at 6:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cliffy (anonymous) says...
It is not the Emporia Gazette' s job to investigate this man; it is the job of the City Manager and his staff.
December 3, 2007 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tmac (anonymous) says...
I am confused...was it the city manager or the media who told us about the "tumultuous" Chief Smith?
December 3, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawks422 (anonymous) says...
This all makes you wonder about this potential chiefs credentials, has he been to the FBI Academy? Does he have any business background, what sort of continued police training does he posses,what is his phiolosphy on policing a city....let's hope Zimmerman didn't jump to fast at candidate because the city is desperate....this particular gentleman is controversal! All I have to say is he better be ready for an uphill battle with the commission because the funds are limited and it isn't going to get better anytime soon, and if he becomes outspoken about it.... he may be short-term and decide a medical reason is his best way out???
December 3, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Here is a news story on Chief Smith if you're interested.
http://www.startribune.com/332/story/...
There are more stories which can be accessed at:
www.startribune.com. They also have a very active blog/forum like ours at:
www.locallygrownnorthfield.org
Why not get on there and talk to the folks...
December 3, 2007 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MinnesotaMan22 (anonymous) says...
Hi, I'm from a small town about 25 minutes or so south of Northfield, Minnesota where Gary Smith is currently chief. I know several people that live in Northfield, and my dad has worked there for years.
I will say, that everything I know and have heard about Smith, he is a good guy and a good leaderrr, he deserves better than Northfield is giving him.
That story on the StarTribune, is misleading, did you read more than just the headline? Yes there is a tumultuous situation in Northfield, however the article seems to point Smith as being most if not all the problem when in fact that is not true.
While it is true that it takes two to tango, the problem is the city administrator who is a jerk and gets along with neither Chief Smith or the Mayor of Northfield for that matter, the mayor and Smith seem to get along for the most part.
This whole thing about the drugs, while controversial what Smith said, it is true. Northfield does have a serious drug problem amongst its youth because it is a rural town yet is not a far drive from the Twin Cities metro area.
The market for heroin and painkillers are particularly bad there and the problem is made worse by the city being either unable or unwilling to admit they have a drug problem because they dont want to ruin the pretty little picture that they think is their town.
Smith admitted the city had a drug problem at a public press conference and got hung out to dry for it. I knew as soon as he said that the city had a drug problem that it was the beginning of the end of his career in Northfield.
Smith would be a good addition to your police department, I have never been to Emporia, but I have researched it and it sounds like a nice town. Give the guy a chance, he certainly deserves better than what Northfield has given him lately.
Remember, that Smith was hired out of Grand Island, Nebraska, where he was a police officer for over 15 years, he has been in Northfield for 8 or 9 years now, the city administrator that hired him, those two got along, but then 4 or 5 years ago that city administrator got another job in the Twin cities suburb of Eden Prairie, MN and was replaced by the current city administrator who never has got along with either Smith or the mayor.
Now, one thing Smith did do wrong was this criminal investigation he had started of the city administrator before he went on leave, he should have turned that investigation over to an outside agency to avoid conflict of interest.
So what do you all think? I will try to answer any questions, I dont know everything, but I follow the cops in this area closely and know a lot but certainly not all of what is going on.
December 4, 2007 at 12:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
everyone needs to give this man a chance to prove himself, he isnt even here yet and the complaining has already begun. if he was sooo bad he would not have been able to stay in law enforcement as long as he has. we all know from living in emporia, the small town papers dont always tell to whole story so lets not jump to conclustions based on a few facts. he must have something good on his resume or he would not have gotten this far with the interviews
December 4, 2007 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nfldmntcf (anonymous) says...
What a story this has become and like the man said he is not even there yet. If you are not going to give him a break I hope he doesn't go. He has been here as long as I have been. I read the other comments from up here and they are on target. Gary had done a fine job. I know other chief's and have several officers as relative so I also have a vested interest. Northfield has not been willing to face the fact that they have problems and need to fix them. I believe that your city will benefit from Chief Smith on your staff. I also know that I will miss working with him although I am not a cop and having times to visit and pray for the good of this community. I will remember your community if you are wise and hire him.
December 4, 2007 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madriver (anonymous) says...
I have known Chief Gary Smith for 7 years, both as a colleague and as a good friend. Gary is an honest, ethical man and is a top notch police administrator. He is a good leader and was active in many community events, as well as law enforcement activities, and often took on extraordinary roles in these activities. He also sits on the prestigious Ethics Committee for the International Chiefs of Police Association, which he does on his own time and own expense.
I was taken back by the mpls paper labeling his tenure as a "tumultuous chapter". But I try to keep in mind that the startribune is liberal and not necessarily a friend to law enforcement. The strib is not given much credibility by those in law enforcement. The reporter and the editor who created that byline show that they deserve no credibility.
If his tenure could be labeled a 'tumultuous chapter' it was definitely created by the actions of an incompetent city administrator (people have come forward asking for his resignation) who seriously lacks leadership abilities. That and add a troubled mayor.
I know many business people and citizens in Northfield and the majority have a tremendous amount of respect for Chief Smith and the job he has done despite tremendous issues in the department that are beyond his control.
Chief Smith is a graduate of the FBI Academy, has extensive training and is a PHD candidate at a major university in St. Paul. I know personally that he put in many, many extra hours on the job and is approachable by his employees and by members of the community.
As far as the investigation that was mentioned, he should be credited for taking the information from community members, doing a preliminary investigation to establish if the information was credible, and then taking the steps to turn it over to the county attorney. This investigation has gone forward by an outside agency further indicating there is reasonable substance to the information he received.
Chief Smith's leaving Northfield will be Northfield's loss and definitely Emporia's gain.
December 5, 2007 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )