ST. GEORGE – “It’s time for somebody younger,” St. George Police Chief Sammie J. Smith said after announcing his retirement Wednesday.

Smith submitted a two-week notice to town officials, saying he will retire.

The 30-year law enforcement veteran says he has some fishing rods he plans to put to good use.

“When I started policing, I had to put all of that up,” Smith said.

The 61-year-old has served as St. George police chief since 1993. He said his last day on the job will be Monday, April 6.

“You can’t replace a person like him,” St. George Mayor Pro Tem and Police Committee Chairman Oscar Odom said.

“I’m saddened to see Chief leave because I was on council when Chief was made active chief 16 years ago … we’ve never had a problem with him,” Odom added. “He’s a workaholic and took care of his men.”

Smith was born in Orangeburg County but grew up in the St. George area. He’s married and has four children and five grandchildren.

“My son has cancer, and I plan on spending time with him,” he said.

Smith doesn’t have any immediate plans for his retirement, and he says he’s not ruling out returning to law enforcement.

“I see a lot of people retire and they come back. I’ll probably come back,” he said.

The St. George Police Committee, which is chaired by Odom and also includes Councilman Darrell Hinton and Councilwoman Margie Ladson, agreed Wednesday night to appoint Sgt. Anthony Britt as acting chief, effective immediately.

Britt, 41, who is a native of St. George, joined the St. George Police Department as an officer last fall after resigning as police chief of Vance, where he served for eight years. Prior to that, from 1993 to 1999, Britt was an officer with the St. George Police Department. He is married and has four children.

Odom said Britt’s tenure as acting chief will cover a six-month probation period, after which the Police Committee will address filling the slot for a permanent chief.

Odom said he would report the Police Committee’s decision to St. George Town Council at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at St. George Town Hall.

T&D Correspondent Martha Rose Brown can be reached by e-mail at marfawose@aol.com.

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