Chief Lorie Smith to Retire from Police Department Effective May 1
Garner Police Chief Lorie Smith has announced that she is retiring effective May 1, 2025, after 30 years of creditable law-enforcement service—all in her hometown with the Garner Police Department.
Chief Smith has led the Police Department since December 2021. She joined it in 1997 as a member of the Patrol Division and started her ascent in the department when she was promoted to sergeant in 2004.
Garner Police Chief Lorie Smith has announced that she is retiring effective May 1, 2025, after 30 years of creditable law-enforcement service—all in her hometown with the Garner Police Department.
Chief Smith has led the Police Department since December 2021. She joined it in 1997 as a member of the Patrol Division and started her ascent in the department when she was promoted to sergeant in 2004.
Chief Smith has been a trailblazer throughout her stellar career. She became the first sworn female member of the Police Department’s command staff when she was promoted to lieutenant in 2015. She then became the department’s first female captain in 2017 and subsequently moved into her current role as the agency's first female chief.
“For me, it has never been about being the police chief or being the first female chief,” said Chief Smith. “I saw this opportunity as a way to advocate for the men and women of the Garner Police Department. I wanted to support a culture where employees felt valued and supported and wanted to come to work each day."
“It has always been my priority to ensure that all GPD employees have the resources, opportunities, training and equipment they need to grow and develop professionally," she said. "I hope that my achievements during my career will inspire others to work hard and persevere through difficult challenges to achieve their goals.”
Reflecting on her career, Chief Smith put primary focus on the exceptional team of which she has been a part.
“I am most proud of the dedicated professionals who serve the Garner community, the high standards we achieve, the exceptional level of service we provide and the positive reputation we have established within the Garner and law enforcement communities,” she said.
Chief Smith’s service to the Police Department has been wide ranging. As a lieutenant, she commanded the Criminal Investigations Division. As a captain, she commanded the Administration Bureau through 2020, serving as the department’s backup public information officer (PIO), primary internal affairs investigator and administrator overseeing the department’s annual budget.
Before her appointment as chief, Smith led the department’s Operations Bureau with oversight of the Patrol, Support Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions. She also was the department’s primary PIO.
In addition, Chief Smith has been a field training officer, general instructor, Crisis Intervention Team officer, negotiator, team leader and team commander for the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team. She also served as a board member of the North Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network from 2016 through 2021.
Grassroots engagement here in Garner has always been a critically important facet of her work, Chief Smith said.
“The people and sense of community are what make Garner special,” she said. “The relationships I developed and nurtured over the years helped build a strong sense of community where people genuinely care about and come together to support each other.”
Chief Smith has been a member of the Garner Educational Foundation since 2015 and has volunteered with the Schools and Community Organized to Read (SCOR) program at Timber Drive Elementary.
She also has been an active volunteer with the Garner Police Athletics and Activities League (PAAL) since its inception and has served as a PAAL coordinator at Rand Road and East Garner Elementary Schools.
“I am proud of the fact I spent my entire career serving with the Garner Police Department," Chief Smith said. “It is a testament to my level of commitment to the Garner community and the law enforcement profession. I will forever be grateful for the great role models and mentors who believed in, encouraged and supported me throughout my career.”
Chief Smith will be recognized for her exemplary service to Garner at the April 1 Town Council meeting.
For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit GarnerPD.org and follow the department on Facebook and Instagram (@garner_police_department).
via Town of Garner
Garner Police Department Recognized for Reaching 30-Year Mark in Continuous Accreditation
The Garner Police Department has reached an impressive milestone, earning advanced law enforcement national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) for the 10th consecutive three-year period.
(From left) Accreditation Manager Dana Clay, Lt. Tyler Rose, Chief Lorie Smith, Deputy Chief Chris Adams, Capt. Michael Medlin and former chiefs Joe Binns and Tom Moss were on hand at the April 1 Garner Town Council meeting to celebrate the Police Department's 30 years of CALEA accreditation.
The Garner Police Department has reached an impressive milestone, earning advanced law enforcement national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) for the 10th consecutive three-year period.
The achievement was recognized last month at the CALEA annual conference in Garden Grove, Calif., and then here in Garner at the April 1 Town Council meeting. The department was first accredited in March 1994 under the leadership of former chief Tom Moss, who attended the Council meeting recognition.
Following a multi-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment and facilities by CALEA assessors, Garner Police Department Chief Lorie Smith, Town Manager Jodi Miller and Accreditation Manager Dana Clay attended last month's CALEA conference for formal recognition of the department's reaccreditation.
CALEA President Marlon Lynch and Executive Director Craig Hartley awarded the Police Department with accreditation, signifying excellence in public safety and commitment to the Garner community. The department now moves into CALEA’s four-year accreditation cycle that includes four annual remote, web-based file reviews and a site-based assessment in the fourth year.
“I am very proud of the dedication and hard work of our team of professionals who helped us receive our 10th accreditation,” Chief Smith said. “Achieving more than 30 years of accreditation is a testament to the department’s commitment to excellence.”
This latest reaccreditation is a capstone achievement for Chief Smith, who will be retiring at the end of this month after 30 years of creditable service--all in her hometown with the Garner Police Department.
Chief Smith said Accreditation Manager Clay, who also is retiring, deserves special recognition.
“Ms. Clay has served as the Police Department’s accreditation manager since May 2003 and has been instrumental in helping us maintain our excellence in the accreditation process,” Chief Smith said. “Her knowledge and experience have been invaluable, and she will be greatly missed as she retires on April 4 after 22 years of service with the Town.”
The purpose of CALEA is to develop standards based on international best practices in public safety, and to establish and administer the accreditation process. The accreditation process is how a public safety agency voluntarily demonstrates how it meets professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.
The benefits of CALEA accreditation include:
Controlled Liability Insurance Costs: Accredited status makes it easier for agencies to purchase liability insurance; allows agencies to increase the limit of their insurance coverage more easily; and, in many cases, results in lower premiums.
Stronger Defense Against Lawsuits and Citizen Complaints: Accredited agencies are better able to defend themselves against lawsuits and citizen complaints. Many agencies report a decline in legal actions against them once they become accredited.
Greater Accountability Within the Agency: Accreditation standards give the chief executive officer a proven management system of written directives, sound training, clearly defined lines of authority and routine reports that support decision making and resource allocation.
Staunch Support from Government Officials: Accreditation provides objective evidence of an agency’s commitment to excellence in leadership, resource management and service delivery. As a result, government officials are more confident in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and meet community needs.
Increased Community Advocacy: Accreditation embodies the precepts of community-oriented policing. It creates a forum in which police and residents work together to prevent and control crime. This partnership helps residents understand the challenges confronting law enforcement and gives law enforcement clear direction about community expectations.
Improved Employee Morale: Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence and competence. It requires written directives and training to inform employees about policies and practices; facilities and equipment to ensure employee safety; and processes to safeguard employee rights. Employees take pride in their agency, knowing it represents the very best in public safety.
CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Sheriffs' Association; and the Police Executive Research Forum.
via Town of Garner
Garner Police Department Deputy Chief Adams to Serve as Interim Chief Starting April 26
Garner Police Deputy Chief Chris Adams will serve as the Police Department’s interim chief starting April 26 until a permanent replacement for the department's top leadership position is named.
Garner Police Deputy Chief Chris Adams will serve as the Police Department’s interim chief starting April 26 until a permanent replacement for the department's top leadership position is named.
Deputy Chief Adams will move into his new temporary role following the retirement of Chief Lorie Smith, who closes out her law-enforcement career on April 25 after 30 years of creditable service—all with the Garner Police Department.
The appointment of Deputy Chief Adams to his new interim role “will allow a seamless leadership transition in the Police Department when Chief Smith retires,” Town Manager Jodi Miller said.
Deputy Chief Adams is a proven community-minded leader with 26 years of experience in policing, all of which are with the Garner Police Department. Before starting his law-enforcement career, Deputy Chief Adams served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He has served as deputy chief in the Garner Police Department since July 2024. Prior to that, he served in various leadership roles for the department including support services captain, patrol lieutenant and several sergeant positions.
“I am honored to serve as interim chief of police for the Town of Garner,” Deputy Chief Adams said. “With 26 years of service with Garner PD, I remain deeply committed to our core values of commitment, integrity and professionalism. During this time of transition, my focus is on maintaining stability within the department, supporting our officers and continuing to build trust with the community we proudly serve. We look forward to working alongside our residents and partners to ensure Garner remains a safe and connected town for all.”
The Town of Garner is currently inviting residents’ input about the hire of the Police Department’s next permanent chief.
A short survey that takes about 3 minutes to complete is open until April 30 and can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GarnerCommunitySurvey
via Town of Garner
Garner Police Department Earns Statewide Award for Recruitment Video
The Town of Garner was among 27 North Carolina jurisdictions to earn recognition in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2025 Excellence in Communications Awards. The Town won first-place honors in the category of promotional videos for an update to the Police Department’s recruitment video.
Communications Media Coordinator Kyle Kettler and Sgt. Joseph Gomes collaborated on the award-winning promotional video that Police uses for recruitment purposes.
The Town of Garner was among 27 North Carolina jurisdictions to earn recognition in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2025 Excellence in Communications Awards. The Town won first-place honors in the category of promotional videos for an update to the Police Department’s recruitment video.
The video was filmed, directed and edited by Communications Media Coordinator Kyle Kettler in collaboration with Sgt. Joseph Gomes.
The objective of the video was to highlight the work-life balance that the Police Department offers, appeal to diverse applicants and showcase community-policing efforts. The video provides “evergreen” content that can be used at career fairs, school presentations and on social media to present the Police Department in an exciting and appealing light.
Produced over the course of four months, the video incorporated new footage from events, officer trainings, ridealongs and scenes from officers' home-life activities. The narration was recorded from officers featured in the video with additional voiceover narration by Chief Lorie Smith.
“I am so proud of the collaboration between Communications and Police on this video,” Chief Smith said. “We wanted an updated recruitment video that emphasized the community focus of our department, and this video succeeded in capturing that in a powerful way.”
The Town of Garner has won a total of 41 first- and second-place NC3C Excellence in Communications Awards since it started competing in the annual statewide contests in 2012.
The year's awards were announced on April 10 during NC3C’s annual conference. 179 award entries from 47 local government organizations were judged by professional communications peers from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.
To learn more about the Garner Police Department, including how to apply for a position, visit GarnerPD.org.
via Town of Garner
Town of Garner Town Welcomes New IT Director
Howley joins the Town with over 15 years of technology leadership experience and over 30 years of total experience providing technology solutions in public-sector environments.
The Town of Garner has welcomed Tom Howley to its team as its new information technology director.
Howley joins the Town with over 15 years of technology leadership experience and over 30 years of total experience providing technology solutions in public-sector environments.
“We are excited to have Tom join the Town’s Information Technology Department,” Assistant Town Manager John Hodges said. “His combination of public-sector experience and his leadership of technology and infrastructure projects make him well-prepared to help Garner deploy and support tools and services to enable our staff to provide excellent customer service to our community.”
The bulk of Howley’s career has been devoted to developing technology infrastructure projects and large data centers and networks to support K-12 learning in Michigan and Washington state.
As a leader in Washington, Howley was elected vice chair of a public regional fiber-optic-network cost-sharing consortium consisting of municipal, K-12, higher-ed, public safety, hospital and other non-profit organizations.
It was there that Howley discovered the satisfying, direct impact municipal governments can make in the communities they serve.
Howley maintains multiple certifications including certified government chief information officer (CGCIO).
Howley and his spouse, Karyn, are happy to be relocating to North Carolina where their children, grandchildren and parents reside.
“I’m very excited to start working with my professional team to provide technology solutions that help all Town departments provide high-quality services desired by our residents,” Howley said.
Leah Harrison Named Garner Town Engineer
Leah Harrison has been named the Town of Garner’s new town engineer effective Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Harrison, who has over 10 years of professional civil engineering experience, joined the Town as assistant town engineer in 2019 and has served as the interim town engineer since October.
Leah Harrison has been named the Town of Garner’s new town engineer effective Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Harrison, who has over 10 years of professional civil engineering experience, joined the Town as assistant town engineer in 2019 and has served as the interim town engineer since October.
Her experience also includes service with the City of Fayetteville and the Bureau of Reclamation, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Harrison has managed municipal and federal capital projects, administered floodplain and stormwater programs, and facilitated regulatory compliance and construction inspection functions.
She has been instrumental in the implementation of several new initiatives in the Town’s Engineering Department, including development of an Engineering Design Manual and implementation of new processes for capital project management and public right-of-way encroachments.
"As interim town engineer and during all of her tenure here, Ms. Harrison has done exceptionally well representing the Town both internally and externally," Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. "That performance, combined with her professional training and previous experience, makes her a great choice to join our senior leadership team."
Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from California State University-Fullerton and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of New Mexico.
She is also a registered professional engineer in the state of North Carolina and a certified floodplain manager.
“I am tremendously thankful and excited for the opportunity to lead the Engineering team for the Town of Garner,” Harrison said. “My passion for this town and its people, my work and my team drives me to do my very best every day. I am honored to continue my work with the Town of Garner and look forward to building a legacy here.”
Outside of her professional work, Harrison volunteers for several community organizations, including the Future City Competition and the Parent Teacher Association.
She serves on the Wake County Water Partnership board and is an active participant in the American Public Works Association.
For more information about the Town’s Engineering Department, please visit garnernc.gov/departments/engineering.