(Today's Camden News Black History Moment is the end of this segment for February - Black History Month. Today, the article celebrates L.C. "Buckshot" Smith, a veteran of law enforcement for more than half a decade and Ouachita County's first black jailer.)
Smith was born in May 12, 1929, in Buena Vista. He began his law enforcement career with the Camden Police Department in 1958 and worked for free. Smith told the Camden News that may be the oldest active officer in the United States. Smith has been featured on the CBS Evening News, The Kelly Clarkson Show and even featured internationally on German Television.
Smith says that since the time he began his career, the biggest change in law enforcement is the hiring process.
"A long time ago you didn't have to go to school. You would just put on a badge and if the man liked, you he'd hang a gun on you," Smith stated. "I worked 30 years with an officer who never wrote a ticket. I had to do all his writing for him."
He said he took a Golden Rule approach to law enforcement during his time with the force.
"I treat people like I want to be treated, y'know?" said Smith. "If all law enforcement would do that, we'd have better community, city and state if all police officers would treat people like they wanted to be treated. This gun and this badge don't make a police officer. You got to want to do it and you got have it in your heart and be fair with everybody. You can't treat everybody the same, but you can treat everybody right."
Smith currently also serves a chairman of the deacon's board for Pilgrims Rest Missionary Baptist Church.