W.E. “Billy” Smith retired as Lenoir County Sheriff on March 31 after more than 24 years in the office and 41 years as a law enforcement officer. He won five elections as sheriff – including the final three unopposed.
Last week, Smith sat down with The Free Press for an interview which included talking about his career, retired life and the men who are poised to replace him. To hear the complete interview, click here.
The Free Press: You’ve been out of office for a few months now, so how’s retirement?
Sheriff Smith: So far, it’s been very enjoyable. I was looking forward to it, since my wife’s retired. We’ve been doing a lot of traveling. She’s been wanting to do a lot of antiquing, so we’ve been all over Eastern North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
TFP: In retirement, what is like now to not have the pressure on your shoulders that you had as sheriff?
SS: The pressure is not there now.
(As sheriff), when you go to bed, you’re thinking about your guys and when you get up, you’re thinking about them. You’re wondering about what kind of call they’re going on and how safe is it. You wonder who’s going to get in a wreck, who’s going to get shot at and who’s going to get complained on, which is all part of it.
That stress and strain is not there and it is a tremendous relief. But I still get up at 4 in the morning … and still go get coffee with the guys. … But when they leave, I always tell them to be careful. But that’s it, when they walk out, it’s over; we’ll start talking about animals or hunting or farming or whatever.
TFP: How did you get started in law enforcement?
SS: I got started in 1972 when I went to work for the sheriff’s office for Sheriff Leo Harper. … Sheriff Harper went out of office Dec. 31, 1988, after many years of service. I had been approached earlier about trying to get the appointment to finish out his term so I came on board (as sheriff) on Jan. 1, 1989. After that appointment period of a year and a half to two years, I ran for office two times; the next three times, no one ran against me. I was very fortunate, very blessed.
TFP: That first time you ran for office, was it more difficult than you imagined?
SS: Being around Sheriff Harper, I knew there were politics involved when you have to run every four years. But I’d also been told by other people, “just do your job and the citizens will make their determination.” …
The folks in Lenoir County have pretty much always wanted progressive law enforcement so that’s what we gave them.
TFP: How satisfying was it for you that you ran unopposed for sheriff the final three times (in 2009, 2005 and 2001)?
SS: It was very satisfying. You pretty much do your job, treat everyone the same and don’t play politics.
I had no idea how many people worked for me who were Republicans or Democrats; I didn’t know and I didn’t care. I just told them to go vote; I didn’t tell them who to go vote for.
One day, I was joking with an administrative secretary when I made some comment. She said, “But I’m a Republican.” I said, “You’re kidding me!” Here I am, a sheriff and a Democrat and the woman who knows all my secrets and does all my typing (is a Republican). We laughed about it.
… (Politics) is the furthest thing from your mind, or it should be. It never figured into it (for me). Anybody’s house that is broken into – and mine was broken into when I was a deputy – or your property has been seized because your father couldn’t make the payments. I had to do that and I’ve been through that.
I grew up in East Kinston on Bright Street where the pavement ended and the dirt started. I tried not to forget where I came from.
I always felt more comfortable drinking coffee at a country store than going to a country club.
TFP: How often were you able to go out, have a meal and no one come up with a complaint or want to talk?
SS: I don’t think I ever sat down at a meal that somebody didn’t come up and say, “I hate to bother you, but.” I appreciated it and I tried to help them.
In the beginning, my wife would wait for them to finish talking and then leave, but it got to where she would just go on to the car and wait because she didn’t know how long it would take.
TFP: How did law enforcement change from 1972 to 2013?
SS: Tremendously. It went from blue lights and the old wound-up sirens like Andy Griffith and Barney had. It went from that to the little siren in the car and cars with no air conditioning to the cars with computers.
When I started, everything was hand-written; five-page reports to the district attorney’s office. Then again, when I started, cases would go to court within 30 days.
TFP: What are you most proud of in your tenure as sheriff?
SS: Trying to be responsive to the public, the continued progression on equipment and technology, going after government grants to pay for that and realizing the (county) commissioners couldn’t fund everything you need.
TFP: What was the No. 1 reason you retired?
SS: The completion of the new jail. … Being with the (N.C.) Sheriff’s Association, I was able to see that other counties were having problems and there was a need there for bed space. I knew if we could get it, it would solve our problem and also be able to have other counties help pay our bills for a while.
… A lot of people didn’t know it, but a couple of bypass surgeries I had, aneurism surgery, also came into play. I’m getting into my early 60s with a medical history like it was. I feel fine now; in fact, I feel great and the best I’ve felt in years. Some people told me the other day I look younger and that was nice.
… In the last few years, I’ve lost three sisters and my mother. … And then, with Allen’s (Pearson) situation, when he got shot. … With my grandson and my wife at home retired waiting for me to come on home so we could do things together as a family.
All of that culminated into “It’s time.”
TFP: There have been several names out there who are interested in running for sheriff in 2014, including your replacement named by the commissioners, Chris Hill, along with Rickey Pearson and Ronnie Ingram. How are you going to approach the election; are you going to support one of these candidates or remain neutral?
SS: I think I have to be an individual that supports who I think is the best person but I think I need to stay out of it because other names have been mentioned, including E.G. Smith. E.G. worked for me for many years and supported me. Ricky worked for me for many years, was very professional and supported me. Chris has, too, and I worked with Ronnie for many years.
… The citizens just need to look at all those qualifications and decide who’s going to keep moving the county forward with technology.
I’ll have to stay out of it and I think I need to stay out of it. Strengths and weaknesses, I think the public will have to decide that.
Want to hear the complete interview?
Former Lenoir County Sheriff W.E. ‘Billy’ Smith sat down with Bryan Hanks and Jon Dawson for a taping of The Free Press Radio Show last week. To hear the complete interview, click here.