St. Paul police chief retiring after 26 years on force

After 20 years on the force, St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith is retiring. Chief Smith will finish his 6-year term and hand over his badge sometime between April and June of next year.

Smith has helped expand the department's youth intervention program and enhance the Blueprint for Safety initiative, which has become a national model for responding to and preventing domestic violence.

Prior to joining the department, Smith worked for 7 years in the corrections field.

“It has been my great honor and privilege to serve as chief of police for this great city,” Smith said. “I cannot express in words how proud I am to have had the opportunity to lead such an exceptional department and work with so many dedicated and professional officers and civilian employees to keep St. Paul safe for its citizens.”