Joe Smith has been named the interim chief of the Roswell Police Department. Roswell Mayor Tim Jennings made the appointment last week. Smith succeeds Phil Smith, who is retiring after more than a decade of service in the position.
Smith has 29 years of experience with the RPD, making his way through the ranks to hold the ultimate position. “I don’t know that it was a goal in the beginning, but definitely when I came back it was something that I had hoped for,” Smith told KOB. “The last couple of years it was something I had aspired to do.”
Smith has a strong background in service. He has served as a member of the National Guard and spent decades with the police department.
Smith worked for RPD as a patrol officer, field training officer, detective, and sergeant before moving to Albuquerque. In February 2008, Smith joined the Roswell Police Department as a patrol officer. In 2014, he was promoted to sergeant and supervised the Patrol Division, School Resource Officers, and Criminal Investigations Division.
Smith was promoted to lieutenant in 2017, supervising the Patrol Division, Technical Services Unit, Criminal Investigations Division, Training and Recruiting Division, and Records Division. In July 2021, he was promoted to Captain of Investigations, overseeing the Criminal Investigations Division and Special Investigations Division (narcotics). All of his experiences have prepared him for this appointment.
“Made my way through the ranks, up to captain,” Smith said. “I’ve supervised every division within the department, so I feel like I have a very good working relationship within the community.”
Phil Smith (no relation) leaves a healthy department. He was able to get back to full staff, reduce crime by 53%, and increase salaries, things Joe Smith plans to keep building on.
“We do have a lot of good things going on in the Roswell Police Department, so I don’t feel like right now there is a great need to make any changes,” Joe Smith said. “We will be handling business and taking care of whatever need arises.”
