Laurie Smith
| Laurie Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952 Lansing, Michigan, USA |
| Occupation | Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California |
| Known for | Law Enforcement |
| Spouse | Brannan Smith[1] |
| Children | Shannan Smith |
Laurie Smith is Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California, and the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state.
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[edit] Career
Smith began her career at the Sheriff's Office in 1973, working as a Matron (the former title for a female Sheriff's Deputy) at the Santa Clara County Jail until 1976.[2] She then became one of the first female permanent undercover vice cops. In three years in this position, she posed as a prostitute, a vendor of stolen goods, and a drug user.[2] She next worked in the patrol division, then became a watch commander over the jails.[2]
In 1990, Sheriff Chuck Gillingham promoted her to Assistant Sheriff.[2][1]
Smith was elected Sheriff of Santa Clara County on November 3, 1998 by a substantial margin and took office on December 15, 1998, becoming the first female sheriff in California.[1][3] Metro Silicon Valley credits her with putting the sheriff's office on a sound and efficient basis.[4] She was re-elected in 2010.[5]
[edit] Education
Smith has a Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University and a Master's Degree in Business Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.[2] She is a graduate of the California Command College and also of the FBI Academy.[1]
[edit] Controversies
Gillingham was criticized for promoting Smith and two others over other candidates of higher rank, in particular for changing the job description to make a sergeant, her rank at the time, eligible for the post of Assistant Sheriff.[2]
In 1992, a male deputy filed an internal complaint against Smith after being transferred out of the narcotics unit while a female deputy with less seniority was allowed to remain. Smith stated that it was not her decision. The same deputy later filed a sexual harassment complaint against Smith, but she was found completely innocent.[2]
After Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr made a controversial decision not to prosecute on grounds of insufficient evidence in an alleged rape of a 17-year-old in San Jose in March 2007, Sheriff Smith declared the case "still open" and that she believed a sexual assault did occur. Carr submitted the case to the Office of the State Attorney General for review.[6][7][8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Sheriff Laurie Smith" at Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Christopher Gardner, "Sheriff Laurie?" Metro Silicon Valley March 26, 1998, Metroactive.com. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- ^ "County Swears in States 1st Female Sheriff," San Jose Mercury News, December 16, 2008 refers to "a landslide."
- ^ "25 Who Changed Silicon Valley," Metro Silicon Valley March 17, 2010: "California's first female sheriff . . . professionalized [the] organization . . . The sheriff's office today is fiscally sound, accessible and outfitted with new technology."
- ^ "Smith Retains Sheriff's Office," San Jose Mercury News June 9, 2010.
- ^ C.W. Nevius, "State's Involvement Could Give Fresh Start to De Anza case," San Francisco Chronicle June 6, 2007, p. A13. Accessed December 5, 2009.
- ^ "AG to Review De Anza Case," San Jose Mercury News, June 6, 2007.
- ^ Leslie Griffy, "De Anza rape case in Limbo, Year Later," The Oakland Tribune, March 3, 2008.
