Keeping a community safe, one driver at a time

By Jennifer McDaniel, jennifermcdaniel@miconews.com

Spring Hill Police Officer Gabe Smith was recently recognized by the regional chapter of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his efforts to take impaired drivers off the roadways. Smith, who joined the department nearly a year ago, arrested 24 drunk drivers in his first seven months on the road. (Photo by Jennifer McDaniel

Gabe Smith takes one of his black leather belt keepers and snaps it around the wide belt that holds his handcuffs, Taser and other tools in place. With the final one snapped, he grabs his radio and slides it onto the belt.

It’s part of the nightly routine for Smith as he gets ready for another Saturday night patrolling the streets in Spring Hill. Just one week before, Smith graduated from the Johnson County Regional Police Academy at Johnson County Community College as a member of the school’s 87th basic class. And with his field training complete, he admits it’s good to be on his own.

And while he just received his state certification as a full-time law enforcement officer, the job isn’t new to him. Smith started his career in Missouri, but Kansas did not accept his previous certification training, which meant he had to spend additional months in the classroom.

But before he headed off to school, Smith took advantage of his time on the road. During the seven months he waited for a slot to open at the academy, Smith netted 24 DUI arrests — the most for his department.

And the numbers didn’t go unrecognized. The regional chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Smith and other law enforcement officers who made numerous DUI arrests during a banquet in April.

To him, Smith said the award gives honor and recognition to the job law enforcement officers do every day.

“I think it shows how much we care about keeping our communities, streets and highways safe from impaired and drunk drivers,” he said.

Smith said he doesn’t specifically patrol to find drunk drivers and that his persistence in finding impaired drivers is the same as looking for other drivers who may be violating other laws like speeding. Just eight days out of the academy, Smith already has taken two more drunk drivers off the road.

“It takes a massive amount of stops to find that impaired driver and take them off the street and keeping people here in town safe,” he said.

Smith decided to pursue a career in law enforcement after watching his uncle, a Johnson County Sheriff’s deputy. But the career also appealed to him because it was one way he could help his community.

“He’s an honorable man,” he said. “I also grew up in a rough neighborhood. I wanted to do something better for myself and my daughter and give something back to my community.”

Though he’s just started his career with Spring Hill, Smith already has long-term goals. One day he hopes to supervise the department’s traffic unit and also become a drug recognition expert to take drug-impaired drivers off the road.

“He does a good job,” Police Chief Mitch Hofmann said. “He is one of the department’s most productive officers as far as traffic stops. He’s very aggressive.”