Published: March 11, 2009 11:38 pm      

State police veteran heading university force

FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University has chosen a 22-year veteran of the Maryland State Police as the next chief of University Police.

Cynthia Smith of Grants-ville, who is the administrator of the Garrett County Detention Center, will assume her duties April 1. Smith is a retired state police lieutenant colonel.

“I was extremely impressed with Chief Smith’s view of the role she wants to play with our students and the local community,” said FSU President Jonathan Gibralter. “Her goal for the future is on prevention first, enforcement, and developing relationships with students and the community. I feel very fortunate to have someone of her caliber agree to join the Frostburg State University community.”

Smith said that FSU’s atmosphere fits well with her policing philosophy. “I’m a participatory manager and a participatory police officer. It’s critical to listen to the community we have there, the students, the faculty and the police officers,” she said. “Frostburg State University really embodies the community policing concept.”

Smith agrees with Gibralter’s approach to preventing the abuse of alcohol among students. “He’s committed to preventing dangerous binge drinking and his ideas are dead spot on,” she said.

Smith has spent 26 years in law enforcement, with 16 years in a command capacity, including chief of special programs for the state police. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Johns Hopkins Police Executive Leadership Program, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Police Executive Research Forum, Traffic Institute of Northwestern University and Garrett College.

Smith succeeds acting Police Chief Clyde W. “Bill” Stewart, a 34-year veteran of University Police, and Police Chief Brian Shanley, who retired in October having served as chief since 1988.