RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Cordova Police Officer C.T. Smith was always involved in the Rancho Cordova community growing up. His father was a helicopter pilot in the National Guard, and his work brought him to Rancho Cordova due to Mather Air Force Base. Some of Officer Smith’s earliest memories are from this community, and now he is proud to have retired from the Rancho Cordova Police Department (RCPD) after a 23-year career in law enforcement.

Officer Smith’s journey began after graduating from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor’s degree in government and journalism. He was working as a law clerk at the federal court and faced the decision of either going to law school or following his career path. He decided to use the skills he’d learned to take the test to join the FBI, but there was a hiring freeze. Officer Smith then applied to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Academy, was accepted, and graduated from the Academy in 1995.

Over the next 13 years, Officer Smith worked at the Main Jail, North and South Patrol, Marine Enforcement Detail, Air Operations, serving the contract City of Citrus Heights, and more.

In 2008, Officer Smith joined RCPD as a patrol officer and field training officer. He wanted to serve the Rancho Cordova community, especially having ties to it as a child. He also was interested in being part of RCPD’s culture that encourages new ideas and has a supportive city.

For the last two years, Officer Smith served as a School Resource Officer for 19 local schools to improve safety through mentoring, education, and addressing public safety concerns. One of his focuses was to find ways to be a positive influence in students’ lives by interacting and having a conversation with them as a peer.

“I’m constantly amazed by the students I have met who have survived through all their struggles,” said Officer Smith. “It was fulfilling to me as an officer to be there for them and serve as a positive influence.” 

Another one of Officer Smith’s focuses was developing relationships with what he calls his second group of coworkers – the administrators and teachers at Rancho Cordova schools. He served as a direct contact for school staff if a problem arose, whether it was a crime that occurred on campus or a student that had something personal happen off campus that impacted his or her school life, and partnered with them to develop a solution. 

“The school administrators and teachers have treated me like I’m part of their team,” said Officer Smith. “They dedicate so much to supporting each school, and I have enjoyed this position in my law enforcement career the most because of that.” 

One of these “coworkers” is Angi Carlomagno, Principal of Williamson Elementary School. She and the staff at Williamson Elementary built a strong bond with Officer Smith over the past few years. He supported the school by promoting positive relationships with students, providing advice, being visible at the school, attending family events, and participating in Coffee with Cops, the school’s way of giving back to the officers by providing them with treats, coffee and time with staff. 

“Officer Smith was a supportive and caring School Resource Officer for our Rancho Cordova schools, and he will be greatly missed,” said Carlomagno. “A favorite memory of Officer Smith was when he played football with the 5th grade students at recess. They loved having him as part of the game! He was the kind of School Resource Officer that went out of his way to make the connections that count. We wish him a wonderful retirement!”

The Rancho Cordova Police Department congratulates Officer Smith on his retirement and thanks him for his service to the Rancho Cordova community and greater Sacramento region!