Age, Biography and Wiki
Laurie Smith is a 68-year-old American law enforcement officer who has served as the Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California since 1998. She is the first woman to be elected to the position.
Smith was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1952. She attended Michigan State University, where she earned a degree in criminal justice. After college, she moved to California and began her career in law enforcement. She worked as a police officer in San Jose, California, and then as a deputy sheriff in Santa Clara County.
In 1998, Smith was elected Sheriff of Santa Clara County. She has since been re-elected four times, and is currently serving her fifth term. During her tenure, she has implemented a number of reforms, including the creation of a mental health unit, a homeless outreach program, and a domestic violence unit.
Smith has received numerous awards and honors for her work in law enforcement, including the California Peace Officers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award and the California Women's Law Center's Woman of the Year Award.
Smith is married and has two children.
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| Occupation |
Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California |
| Age |
71 years old |
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| Birthplace |
Lansing, Michigan, USA |
| Nationality |
United States |
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She is a member of famous with the age 71 years old group.
Laurie Smith Height, Weight & Measurements
At 71 years old, Laurie Smith height not available right now. We will update Laurie Smith's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.
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Not Available |
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Not Available |
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Not Available |
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Not Available |
Who Is Laurie Smith's Husband?
Her husband is Brannan Smith
| Family |
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| Husband |
Brannan Smith |
| Sibling |
Not Available |
| Children |
Shannan Smith |
Laurie Smith Net Worth
Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is Laurie Smith worth at the age of 71 years old? Laurie Smith’s income source is mostly from being a successful . She is from United States. We have estimated
Laurie Smith's net worth
, money, salary, income, and assets.
| Net Worth in 2023 |
$1 Million - $5 Million |
| Salary in 2023 |
Under Review |
| Net Worth in 2022 |
Pending |
| Salary in 2022 |
Under Review |
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Not Available |
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Not Available |
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Laurie Smith Social Network
Timeline
In 2019 The Mercury News and affiliates have uncovered that she issues CCW permits in a "pay for play" fashion to those who donate money to her campaign reelection funds. as well as shoddy record keeping. The Santa Clara County DA has opened an investigation into this issue
On June 5, 2018, Smith ran for re-election to her sixth term against five challengers including former undersheriff John Hirokawa and Deputy Joseph LaJeunesse. The results required the first run-off of her career, against Hirokawa, on November 6, 2018; Smith was re-elected.
Two inmates escaped from custody in San Jose in November 2016. Two inmates escaped from custody in Palo Alto in November 2017.
On August 27, 2015, mentally-ill inmate Michael Tyree was beaten to death by three jail guards who were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017.
In June 2014 Smith won election for a fifth term against retired Sheriff's Captain Kevin Jensen, who had been endorsed by the Santa Clara County Deputy Sheriffs' Association and the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers' Association.
As of 2014, Smith has been on the Salvation Army Board of Directors, a member of Rotary International, a member of the Advisory Board at the University of San Francisco, and a member of the Administration of Justice Program Advisory Board at De Anza College. She is part of the National Sheriffs' Association, and participates in half a dozen regional and international law enforcement groups (in particular she was President of the California State Sheriffs' Association in 2007–08 and is on the President's Council as of 2014) as well as a dozen local groups.
In 2012, there was controversy over Smith's assigning a bodyguard to Santa Clara County Supervisor George Shirakawa, Jr., who was ultimately convicted of misuse of funds and other crimes. The bodyguard was a family friend of Shirakawa's whose brother was a political advisor, and was reassigned by the Sheriff's Office after criticism.
A lawsuit in 2011 claimed that Smith issues concealed carry permits preferentially to friends and donors.
In 2010, Metro Silicon Valley credited Smith with putting the sheriff's office on a sound and efficient basis. She was re-elected in 2010.
After Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr made a controversial decision not to prosecute on grounds of insufficient evidence in an alleged rape of a 17-year-old in San Jose in March 2007, Sheriff Smith declared the case "still open" and that she believed a sexual assault did occur. Carr submitted the case to the Office of the State Attorney General for review.
After eight years as Assistant, Smith was elected Sheriff of Santa Clara County on November 3, 1998 by a substantial margin and took office on December 15, 1998, becoming the first female sheriff in California.
In 1990, Sheriff Chuck Gillingham promoted her to Assistant Sheriff. (At the time, Gillingham was criticized for promoting Smith and two others over other candidates of higher rank, in particular for changing the job description to make a sergeant, her rank at the time, eligible for the post of Assistant Sheriff.) In 1992, a male deputy filed an internal complaint against Smith after being transferred out of the narcotics unit while a female deputy with less seniority was allowed to remain. Smith stated that it was not her decision. The same deputy later filed a sexual harassment complaint against Smith, but she was found innocent.
Smith began her career at the Sheriff's Office in 1973, working as a Matron (the former title for a female Sheriff's Deputy) at the Santa Clara County Jail until 1976. She then became one of the first female permanent undercover vice cops. In three years in this position, she posed as a prostitute, a vendor of stolen goods, and a drug user. She next worked in the patrol division, then became a watch commander over the jails.
Laurie Smith is a native of Michigan, where she lived until completion of high school. In 1969 she relocated to San Jose, California, for college and to begin her law enforcement career. Smith has a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University and a master's degree in Business Management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is a graduate of the California Command College and of the FBI Academy and National Executive Institute.
Laurie Smith (born 1952) is Sheriff of Santa Clara County, California, and the first female County Sheriff in the history of the state.
