Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Thomas Allen Smith holds a certificate recognizing 40 years of service alongside (from left) Sheriff Matthew Myers, Maj. John Martoccia and Maj. Chris Lane.
Photo provided
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Thomas Allen Smith was honored Tuesday for 40 years of service to the office and county residents.
Sheriff Matthew Myers presented Smith a certificate recognizing “the example you have set and the standards you have upheld. Your commendable qualities and dedicated service are truly an example of Indiana’s finest.”
The department noted in recognizing Smith that he is among less than 1 percent of law enforcement officers nationwide to have graduated from the FBI Academy.
“I have been around since 1982, and I have seen our sheriff’s office change from what I would refer to as ‘Mayberry RFD’ to the department we have today,” Smith said. “Through the years (and seven sheriffs), we have realized that BCSO is no longer a small community’s sheriff’s office.
“Today, our agency has prospered above and beyond when it comes to many areas including training, drug seizures and professionalism,” he said. “Our community interaction has skyrocketed and that makes me very proud. I look forwarded to continuing to serve this agency and the citizens of Bartholomew County”.
Myers likewise reminisced in honoring Smith. “T.A. comes into work with his same presence that I remember when I was 13-years-old,” the sheriff said. “His shoes are shined, his attitude toward our community and law enforcement is positive and he is an excellent example to the other members of our BCSO Team. Forty years and seven sheriffs later, T.A. still cares about our agency and about people.”
