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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Maplesville Police Department Cpl. Damian Smith was recognized as one of Crimestopppers 215STOP Alabama’s 2024 Officers of the Year in May for his dedication to serving the community he grew up in.

“It is a very honorable thing to have,” Riley Barnett, Maplesville Police Chief, said. “It is presented to someone who shows extreme dedication to their job and shows a level of professionalism above all others.”

Smith was nominated to Crimestoppers by Barnett, and the selection committee selected Smith as one of the recipients. Crimestoppers awards a handful of Officer of the Year Awards each year, and those winners are nominated for the statewide Officer of the Year in Alabama.

“This is a great community to work for,” Smith said. “I grew up here, so I have known these people for a long time. I am glad to serve this amazing community of Maplesville. It was a shock to win the award, but I really enjoyed it.”

Smith was born and raised in Maplesville and began his career in law enforcement in September 2018 being hired by the Montgomery Police Department and graduating from the police academy in 2019. He spent four years as a patrol officer with the department, but he wanted to get back to his roots. Smith made his way back to Maplesville in January 2023 and joined the MPD as a patrol officer. Barnett believes having officers in the department serving the community they grew up in is extremely beneficial having known the town well before. As for the transition from a massive metropolitan department in Montgomery to the much smaller department in Maplesville, Smith made it seamlessly.

“I think being born and raised here (helped),” Barnett said. “But if he would have been born and raised there and then came here, it would have been a culture shock. I think because he knew the functions of the town and how the people work it was an easier transition for him.”

Barnett pinpointed Smith’s work ethic as something that he has become known for since joining the department and his dedication to the profession of law enforcement. He added that Smith is a leader to other officers in the department offering help to younger officers and those more seasoned than himself, and they all respond well. Smith has a servant’s heart and the need to want to help people, taking pride in doing that each day.

“Reliability, loyalty and dedication is what sets him apart from a lot of others,” Barnett said. “He is a great asset for this town to have. In this day and time, those are hard to come by. As a leader, you can pick up quickly on the special ones. He is good for the Town of Maplesville, and he proudly serves his community.”

Smith will also be in the running for the Crimestoppers 215STOP statewide Alabama Officer of the Year Award announced later this year.