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Hagerstown Police Chief Announces Retirement
3/21/2012
After 12 years of service in the City of Hagerstown, Chief Arthur Smith of the Hagerstown Police Department announces his retirement, which will be effective September 6th of this year.
Previous to his hire in Hagerstown, Smith served the Baltimore Police Department for 26 years and retired at the rank of major. He served as commander of the Northeastern District and the Tactical Unit; he also worked in various assignments, including the homicide unit, drug enforcement and patrol at each rank. As commander, he created a sector management system that made officers accountable to neighborhoods in which they served.
Smith took the helm of the police department in November of 1999 and made tackling Hagerstown’s drug problem his first priority. He implemented a more neighborhood-oriented approach to promoting safety and started a sector management system similar to Baltimore. Lieutenants serve as the point of contact for neighborhood concerns and play a proactive role in Neighborhoods 1st groups. “He has always brought integrity to his work and the department,” City Administrator Bruce Zimmerman says of the chief. “His commitment to neighborhoods and the community is what has made him such a strong leader.” The city has also seen an overall decrease in crime under Smith’s watch.
Chief Smith was instrumental in wider law enforcement and emergency initiatives such as the Central Booking Facility and the Consolidated 911 Center. “During his 12 years with the city, Art has been very progressive both with the department and the community,” Zimmerman adds. “He’s always been committed to Hagerstown and the safety of both citizens and officers.” Furthermore, in 2011 the Hagerstown Police Department was re-accredited through CALEA and was the first municipality in the area to achieve the status of “Meritorious Accreditation.”
During his career in Hagerstown, Chief Smith took a year-long unpaid leave of absence to work in Afghanistan under a contract with the U.S. Department of State between 2005 and 2006. While overseas, he worked closely with the U.S. military and the Afghan National Police to help the people of Afghanistan move forward.
Upon Smith’s retirement, Captain Mark Holtzman will be assigned as the Acting Police Chief. Holtzman has been serving the department for almost 23 years. He has a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore and will earn a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore in June of this year. He will be attending the FBI National Academy from April - June. Holtzman currently serves as the Operations Captain for the department.
