BY BRADLY GILL NEWS EDITOR
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After over 60 years in law enforcement, L.C. "Buckshot" Smith hung up his proverbial hat in a retirement ceremony held March 31 by the City of Camden Police Department.
"When I started in my career in 1992, it was with Buckshot. I started off under Sheriff Ben Garner and was a jailer for the first year of my career, and at that time, Mr. Smith was my supervisor. And here we sit 30 years later, and we've been working together this whole time," Camden Police Chief Boyd Woody said at the event. "I don't have anything but praise to say about this man. He comes to work religiously and is one of the hardest working men I've ever known in my life and I have the utmost respect for Mrs. Smith."
Woody presented Smith with his service firearm and badge.
Smith was also recognized by Rep. Bruce Westerman on the U.S. House floor last week, and during the party, Westerman's field representative Yancey Kyle read from the statement.
"Officer Smith's dedication to protecting and serving the people of his community goes deeper than just his badge; it's in his heart. His true character has been evident through the relationships he's built within the community he's served for so long. Throughout his record-long career, Officer Smith has treated everyone in Camden with the utmost fairness and respect. He's held the nickname 'Buckshot' for most of his life, and everyone in Camden knows him as such," the statement said.
"While he will surely be missed by the Camden Police Department, his 60-plus years of service will be remembered forever. Officer Smith is a beloved member of the community, and his legacy will go down in history as one that was built on the Golden Rule to treat others as you would want to be treated " the statement continued.
Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston likewise presented Smith with the Capitol Citation, a state honor recognizing Arkansans for service to their communities, for his years in law enforcement.
A host of other local officials, including Judges Ryan Phillips and David Graham, former Camden Mayor Marie Trisolini and current Camden Mayor Charlotte Young also spoke to the assembled crowd about their relationships with Smith.
Former Ouachita County Coroner Sylvester Smith Jr. said Buckshot was previously a deputy coroner.
"People don't realize Buckshot and I started back in 1973 and '74 and '75. Well in '75, when he worked for Robert Earl Brown, he let me come and ride along with him, you know, as a deputy when he was at the sheriff's office, and right after that I went to work with Louisiana State Police, so really I got my start in law enforcement because of Buckshot," Smith said. "I worked for the sheriff's office and we still stayed close and he was one of my deputy corners for about 12 or 13 years -- probably about the only one that I could trust to go on a call beside myself."
Smith stated that he's served under seven sheriffs and two police chiefs.
He was one of eight children, but two of his siblings died during childbirth.
" Mo m m a a n d D a d dy raised six, four boys and two girls, and I'm the only one living," he said.
His advice to anyone planning on a career in law enforcement: "You got to want to be a police officer to be good."
Smith, who will be 94 in May, said that he plans to spend his free time fishing.