Optimist Club names 2018 Officer of the Year

Optimist Club President Steve Sheldon presents Officer Metter Smith with a plaque naming her "2018 Police Officer of the Year"

Office Metter Smith of the Auburn Hills Police Department has been named the 2018 Auburn Hills Morning Optimist Club Police Officer of the Year. Smith, who joined the department in 2003, received special recognition during a meeting of Optimist club members and guests including Auburn Hills Chief of Police Jeffrey Baker, City Manager Tom Tanghe, Assistant City Manager Don Grice, and her fellow officers in the police department.

“Officer Smith is a tremendous asset to the community and we are very proud to have her as part of our team,” said Chief Baker, adding that “it is very fitting for her to be recognized for all of her hard work.”

Metter’s fifteen years of service for the City of Auburn Hills includes acting as the liaison for Great Lakes Crossing Mall and chairing the community-wide National Night Out Against Crime. In addition, Metter is a TIPS and ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Instructor and a Child Car Seat Technician. Recently she was named the School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Avondale School District, assuming the role following Officer Brian Miller who was the district’s longtime SRO and a familiar face at the schools.

“When Officer Smith joined our staff at Avondale High School, replacing Officer Miller, there was concern about how our students would weather the transition,” said Avondale School District Superintendent Dr. James Schwarz. “She would be replacing someone who was very popular and well-known in our learning community.”

The concerns proved to be unfounded as, according to Schwarz, the transition from Miller to Smith was seamless. “She wasted no time establishing relationships with staff and students and setting a positive and professional tone,” he said.

Officer Smith was pleased by the recognition and humbled by the accolades, “the job I do, and the love and care I put into it every day, I feel it needs no recognition. It’s something I do because it is who I am, it’s part of the fabric of my life,” she said.

Optimist Club President Steve Sheldon presented Officer Smith with a plaque from the Club and informed the members and guests that her name will be added to an ongoing plaque honoring past Officers of the Year.

After receiving the award, Smith said “I am completely over joyed to accept this award and I will continue to uphold this honor by giving my all every day.”