Sergeant from JFK Barrack Named Officer of Year

A sergeant based in Perryville won "Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year" Tuesday at an awards ceremony for Maryland State Police.

Sgt. Michael J. Smart of the John F. Kennedy Highway Barrack was recognized for his “excellent leadership," according to his supervisor, Det. Sgt. Gooding, who said Smart "motivates his personnel to ... deliver positive results that are nothing short of the example he himself sets.” 

In 2012, Smart made 748 traffic stops, issuing 1,048 citations and warnings, Maryland State Police said. On top of that, he made 16 criminal arrests and assisted with 35 other arrests.

Smart's subordinates made 8,348 traffic stops, resulting in 6,224 citations and 5,415 warnings, police said, and they made 190 drunk driving arrests and 145 criminal arrests.

In 2012, Smart was given the responsibility of heading up the "Special Traffic Initiative on Ninety-Five Group," also known as the STING Team, which conducted 12 operations in communities where past activity or violations threatened citizens, according to Maryland State Police. For his role, Smart was lauded for producing results while partnering with state, federal and local agencies.

One project the STING Team participated in was the Cecil County Crime Initiative, in which one heroin distributor was shut down and three marijuana growing operations were dismantled, the statement said. The initiative also resulted in 40 arrests, police said, in partnership with the North East Barrack, Maryland State Police Gang Unit, State Apprehension Team and the Criminal Enforcement Division. 

In another operation, the STING Team joined the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in stopping 76 buses and inspecting 36 of them; as a result, five buses were taken out of service for safety violations and four drivers taken off the road for license violations, Maryland State Police said. Two of the drivers were arrested for criminal violations, according to police.

Though he took over the STING Team in 2012, Smart has been with Maryland State Police since 1997, after 11 years as an officer with the Winslow Township Police in Camden County, NJ. Wherever he goes, he has been a leader; Smart is president of his homeowners' association, police said, and leads a youth basketball program at his church. He started the Maryland State Police holiday toy run 14 years ago, and he delivers presentations to the community on child safety, drug abuse and home security regularly, according to a press release.

Smart is "continually sought after by peers and subordinates for his advice," according to supervisor Gooding.

“He routinely stands out at the JFK Highway Barrack as a member of the department who is consistently reliable, hardworking and dependable," Gooding said. "He sets the example to be emulated by his subordinates and peers within the Maryland State Police.”