New 'top cop' eager to solve Chester County's challenges

By Charles D. Perry - The Herald

Q&A with Sheriff Richard Smith

Here's what Richard Smith faced when he went to work as Chester County's new sheriff Tuesday: a county that last year saw drug dealers in a turf battle, a crumbling jail that state officials have threatened to shut down if it's not brought up to code and his own campaign promises to handle these problems.

Smith, 41, knows where he set the bar. When he swore in most of his deputies Tuesday, he reminded them that change won't come easily and not to expect everything to be better within the month.

"It didn't get like that overnight," he said, "and it's not like turning a light switch off."

Smith served as the Fort Lawn police chief for seven years before ousting Chester County's two-term incumbent Sheriff Robby Benson, who left office after eight years on a somewhat bitter note, firing two long-term officers last month.

Weeks before their termination, the officers served on a board that interviewed candidates for posts under Smith. With Smith in power, both men are again working for the sheriff's office.

After Tuesday's ceremony, Smith spoke with The Herald about the changes he plans to make in the department and the strategies he has for battling local crime. Comments have been edited for brevity.

Q. What are the greatest challenges you're facing now?

A. "We're restructuring the department. I'm going to put more deputies on the road and get them out of the office. ... What we're doing is taking the court (officer) positions and make them road deputies. And we're taking the bailiffs, and we're going to make them class three (minimal authority) deputies. ... Then, (the bailiffs) can perform courtroom security."

Q. How do you combat the county's drug problem?

A. "The biggest way to combat it is all the law enforcement agencies will have to work together, share intelligence, working with the solicitor. ... You may have a piece of information over here. You may have a piece of information over there. Well, without putting these two pieces of information together, you might not be able to make an arrest."

Q. You've talked about starting a multijurisdictional drug task force similar to the one York County has. Do you still plan on doing that?

A. "Yeah. We're going to have to look for grant funding, probably, to help get it started, due to the economy."

Q. State officials have told the county they will shut down the jail if it's not brought up to code by August. Do you think the jail will be finished in time to meet the state's deadline?

A. "As far as construction, no, I don't think it'll be."

Q. Did the state give the county an extension?

A. "Well, not yet."

Q. Do you think that, if state officials see the county working on the jail, they will give you an extension?

A. "I would hope they would if they see construction going on. That's a little bit different than saying that we're going to fix it. I mean, that's actually proof in the pudding."

Q. How will you deal with the county's gang problems?

A. "Narcotics (officers), we're going to be getting them gang training. I don't think they've had a lot of that in the past."

Q. You've wanted this post for a long time. Are you excited?

A. "I'm just ready to get this (interview) process over with so I can get down to business."