Chief 2023


Chief Wilmon Smith is a proud United States Army Veteran and a veteran law enforcement officer of thirty-seven years. Smith started his law enforcement career in early 1986 with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in Hahnville, Louisiana. Later that same year he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was promoted to Narcotics Sergeant in 1989, and Lieutenant, Internal Affairs in 1994.

Smith is widely known for his ability to mentor young officers and the courses he has developed and taught on Informants, Gangs and Diversity Appreciation. Smith is a Master Peace Officer, certified hypnotist, and defensive tactics instructor, and licensed private investigator. Smith was assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Drug Intelligence Group, and he supervised a narcotics group at the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force. He was assigned to the Texas State House of Representatives Committee on General Investigating as an Investigator.  Smith is a graduate of the Drug Unit Commanders Academy, Quantico, Virginia, the Undercover Operatives Academy, Glynco, Georgia, FBI-LEEDA Trilogy, and Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Evanston, Illinois. Smith attended the Southern Police Institutes Chief Executives Course at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a graduate of the Governor’s Center of Management Development, Management Development Program, and the Excellence in Leadership Program. Chief Smith has also acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. 

In 2015, Smith received national recognition when he was nominated by the National Association of Police Organizations for National Top Cop in Washington D.C. In 2016, Smith retired from the Department of Public Safety after thirty years of distinguished service as a Lieutenant, Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Anti-Gang Task Force. In January of 2019, Smith was appointed Chief of the Hitchcock Police Department. Prior to becoming Chief of Police at Hitchcock he was employed with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as an Investigator.  Smith is a member of the Department of Public Safety Officers Association, the National Black State Trooper’s Coalition, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executive’s, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Chief Smith believes the importance of mentoring/coaching can never be overstated. The Hitchcock Police Department has a few young, impressionable officers who are eager to learn and have a passion for the job. Chief Smith’s goal is to provide the leadership and the support they need, in order to become successful in their chosen careers.