| 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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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]
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]
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]