The City of Colchester has hired Gary Smith as its new Chief of Police, marking the return of a full-time police department after a quarter-century. This move aligns with Mayor Mark Clark’s vision to strengthen public safety in the city.
“Chief Smith brings years of leadership experience and a proven track record of building police departments from the ground up,” Mayor Clark said. “He has served as Dallas City’s Police Chief since 2017 and helped launch the Blandinsville Police Department. We’re excited for him to lead Colchester’s police force into a brighter future.”
Alderman Catherine Louderman confirmed that Smith will officially take over as Chief on December 5, 2025. The city council also approved a $3,750 purchase of new police uniforms, including bulletproof vests.
Louderman added that the council allocated funds to upgrade body cameras and tasers to comply with new federal regulations taking effect early next year. She explained the council’s decision to keep the old police car after transferring its equipment to a new police truck, a move influenced by the ongoing hiring process for the new chief.
“We initially planned to sell the old police car, but with the hiring of Chief Smith underway, the council decided to retain it for now,” Louderman said.
