Libby fills chief of police post

Sgt. Jim Smith agreed last week to take on the permanent title of Libby chief of police after performing the duties for more than four months.

Smith, who has been on the force since 2004, initially planned to fill the role only temporarily until the city resumed the hiring process in spring to replace former chief Clay Coker, whose resignation took effect Aug. 1.

He declined the job at first, he said, because he and his family had tentative plans to move. But he reconsidered when his stepson, who is in the eighth grade, expressed a wish to stay. 

“He’s got a lot of buddies, he’s an athlete, always on the honor roll. He really likes the school here so he’d like to graduate from school in Libby,” Smith said. “My wife and I talked about it and said, well, let’s stick around for a few more years.”

Smith has nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience and moved to Libby at the suggestion of Coker, who served with him in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I think he’s ready (to be chief),” Coker said. “He’s been a front line supervisor – I think it’s the next step.”

Coker resigned at the same time two patrol officers left to pursue other ambitions, leaving Smith with only one officer who, according to Coker, had less than one year on the force.

The department is finally almost up to full staff, which with grant money includes an additional full-time and part-time position. Smith and the mayor will be looking for one more officer – a sergeant, this time, to balance the handful of fresh recruits that will take turns next year attending 12 weeks of Law Enforcement Academy in Helena.

“He’s in the same spot I was 13 years ago,” Coker said. “It was just me – and four other guys that all had to go to the academy that year.”

A high turnover is pretty standard for the Libby Police Department, according to Coker and Smith, as officers are lost to the sheriff’s office or bigger police departments in other cities.

“You just deal with it,” said Smith. “We lose officers to the sheriff’s office usually. They get paid a little better and they have a wider range that they cover.”

Coker praises Smith for his work ethic, honesty and fairness. Now that he has agreed to take the job for the long-term, Coker believes he will become more involved in his duties.

“I think he’ll enjoy it (being chief) now that he’s got his feet wet,” Coker said. “Now that he decided to take the job, he’ll get more involved in council meetings, writing grants and other stuff like that.”