Philip Smith, a veteran law enforcement professional with more than 37 years of experience who
has served as a university-level adjunct professor teaching cultural diversity, law enforcement
ethics and police administration, started as Lakewood’s police chief in April.
Lakewood Police Chief Phillip Smith
City Manager Kathy Hodgson said Smith will bring a broad range of skills to the Lakewood
Police Department to continue its high level of service to residents, and his dedication to ethical
and transparent policing aligns with Lakewood’s values. His background in community
engagement and his leadership will be invaluable in addressing the complex challenges facing
law enforcement today.
For the past nine years, Smith has served as the police chief in Roswell, New Mexico,
where he created an innovative program that enhanced both the public’s safety and
trust in law enforcement. He is dedicated to transparent policing and to implementing
policies that improve community safety and foster positive relationships between the
police and residents.
“I am honored to have been selected as Lakewood’s police chief and look forward to
working with the community and the Police Department to build a safer, stronger and
more connected community,” he said.
His academic accomplishments include a doctorate in organizational leadership, a
master’s degree in criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree in social science and
history.
The city manager is charged with hiring the police chief under Lakewood’s City Charter,
and the selection process covered six months that included the following steps: high-
profile and diverse visibility for the opening; extensive meetings and surveys with the
Police Department that garnered the participation of nearly 300 staff members; multiple
candidate interviews, presentations and panel discussions with the finalists; a management and leadership assessment; and online participation for residents in the
selection process.