Nevada CountyCandidate for Sheriff/Coroner

Bill Smethers – Executive Lieutenant

Bill Smethers has 25 years of professional law enforcement and public safety experience in a wide range of capacities. A third-generation native of Nevada County, Bill graduated from Nevada Union High School in 1985. After High School, Bill continued his education at Sierra College in Rocklin, California majoring in Criminal Justice. In 1992, Bill put himself through the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at Butte College Safety Center and later graduated from Union Institute and University earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Management.

Bill began his law enforcement career with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office as a Correctional Officer at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in 1993, while serving with the Nevada City Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer.

In 1995, Bill was hired by the Nevada City Police Department and worked full-time as a Police Officer until 1998, when he accepted a position with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff. Since being with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Bill has served in a variety of assignments which included Patrol Deputy, Boating Safety Officer, Corporal/Field Training Officer, Narcotics Detective, Detective Sergeant, Administrative Sergeant, Executive Lieutenant, Investigations Lieutenant and Patrol Lieutenant.

Over Bill’s Career he has received numerous letters from members of the community praising his level of service. Bill was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as Officer of the Year for four years consecutively in western Nevada County for D.U.I enforcement. As Detective Sergeant in charge of the Narcotics Task Force, Bill and his unit received several commendations, including the 2008 Annual Law Enforcement Fire Protection Council Award, and a Unit Citation from the County for their accomplishments in the highest amount of Narcotics Seizures recorded in the County of Nevada. Bill also received a certificate from the Drug Enforcement Administration recognizing him for his Outstanding Contributions in the field of Drug Enforcement.

Bill and his wife Christina have been married for 26 years and have three grown children who also reside in Nevada County. Bill enjoys playing men’s slow pitch softball, hunting, fishing, and camping with his family.   

The Sheriff should be an advisor and collaborator with the community they serve. It is not the role of the Sheriff to push personal agendas. The Sheriff’s role is to enforce the laws that have been enacted by legislation and the voters. It is vitally important for the Sheriff to be unbiased in that enforcement.

It is imperative that the Sheriff’s Office be transparent and forthcoming with the community it serves. The relationship between the community and law enforcement must be one that is built on a mutual trust, without trust everyone suffers. The deputies suffer when they are perceived as lacking integrity by the community they have sworn to protect and citizens suffer from living under an umbrella of mistrust and unease.  Under my leadership, this office will be open and available to our community 24 hours a day. When mistakes are made they will be quickly acknowledged and remedied. 

The Sheriff must maintain the highest standards in policing while responsibly utilizing public funds. To do this, I will work with surrounding law enforcement leaders to pool our resources and develop multiagency teams to better serve the public. I will ensure our staff is well trained and provides the highest quality of service, while maintaining a trusted and respected relationship with the community. I will also work to receive grants to increase our coverage and reduce response times throughout the county.

I believe in the analogy that law enforcement has a bank account of trust with the community. It is important for the Sheriff to keep that trust with their community and keep that account healthy. When this is done, the community is safer, happier, and healthier.