State Sheriffs’ Association Recognizes Larry Smith

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith gets some recognition from a statewide group of peers. According to a news release, Smith, along with several officials with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, attended the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas 136th Annual Training Conference and Expo in San Antonio from July 26-29. At the awards dinner Tuesday evening, SAT President and Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano presented the President’s Award to Smith for what were termed his outstanding support and cooperation with the Sheriff’s Association of Texas and his commitment to unselfish service to the people of the State of Texas. The award states that Sheriff Smith is recognized by his peers as an honorable person and an outstanding citizen.

Cerliano cited Smith’s many accomplishments throughout his almost 40 years in law enforcement, including his assistance in obtaining a confession from a shooter who had killed four people during a robbery in 1994. That confession led to the recovery of essential evidence allowing the suspect to be convicted, according to the release. Cerliano gave many examples of Smith’s willingness to assist other agencies in their investigations as well as mentor law enforcement officers in case investigations and drafting search and arrest warrants.