(Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

On New Year’s Day, Sheriff Larry Smith was sworn in for a fourth term.

While the world celebrated the arrival of 2025, Sheriff Smith stood in the Central Jury Room of the Smith County Courthouse on Wednesday morning to reaffirm his commitment to public service. The Honorable 114th State District Judge Austin Reeve Jackson presided over the ceremony, administering the Oath of Office, and Smith officially began his fourth term as the duly elected sheriff of Smith County.

“(To the voters), thank you for putting me back in office,” Smith said. “We will uphold everything that the promises that I have made past, present and future. We will continue to make this community of Smith County a place you want to live, raise a family, and work. I pledge that we’re gonna make that happen.”

The jury room was packed with Smith County employees — including patrol deputies, detention officers, criminal investigators, telecommunicators, and administrative staff — in show of support. In accordance with Chapter 85 of the Texas Code, the newly elected or re-elected sheriff must take the oath on Jan. 1, followed by the swearing-in of all sworn members of the sheriff’s office.

“We’ve come a long way,” Smith said. “Technology has changed tremendously since the previous Sheriff (J.B.) Smith left, and we’ve had the support of the commissioners court. We’ve had the support of the citizens of Smith County, and I can’t say enough about that. I never wanna be somewhere I’m not wanted, and I feel welcome where I am each and every day.”

Smith has dedicated 48 years to law enforcement, serving in multiple roles across various agencies. Starting in Gregg County, he rose to captain in criminal investigations before joining the Drug Enforcement Agency in Denver for two years. Returning to Texas in 1989, he spent 21 years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives before becoming Smith County sheriff, a position he has held for 12 years.

A Big Sandy native, Smith’s career reflects his ties to the region, enriched by his experiences, including his time in Colorado.

“I’ve served people in my community that I grew up in and it’s just different when you’re serving people that you know than strangers and… this is home,” Smith said.

In addition to the sheriff’s swearing-in, more than 200 law enforcement officers, from detention officers to telecommunicators, also took their oaths of office.

“We’ve got a 100% homicide clearance rate plus extra ones we cleared for other entities,” Smith said. “Our burglaries and thefts and everything, we’ve got everything going in the right direction and I want to continue that. It takes a lot of work to keep that up … I’ve got some of the best leadership teams I’ve ever seen anywhere.”

The day was not only memorable for the swearing-in of the sheriff and Smith County employees but also historic, as it marked the final swearing-in ceremony at the current courthouse before its demolition to make way for a new one.

“It means the world will start another term,” Smith said. “It means, No. 1, that I’m still healthy enough to do it. Also that the people want me to do it or I wouldn’t be standing here and as long as that keeps happening, as long as my health holds up, and as long as the people still want me, I’ll be here.”