After 28 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, 4 years leading Birmingham PD, and now serving as Chief of the Lakewood Police Department in Washington, Chief Patrick Smith has seen nearly every side of policing. A former U.S. Marine, Chief Smith shares how discipline, innovation, and compassion have guided him through a career that’s spanned both coasts and multiple agencies. In this episode, he reflects on how he built Birmingham’s Real-Time Crime Center from scratch, introduced new technology in Lakewood that reduced stolen vehicles by 67%, and why leadership lessons from the Marine Corps still shape the way he leads today. Chief Smith also dives into what makes a true “A-Player” officer, the power of compassion in law enforcement, and how staying grounded in who you are—no matter your rank—defines lasting success in policing.
View all episodes
