Sheriff Biography

Personal / Professional History
Wife (32 yrs): Children: Grandchildren:	Robyn (Evans) Smith, Physical Therapist, Scott & White Santa Fe Center Ben (31); Chris (29); Matt (27) Taylor
EDUCATION: Dan graduated from Belton High School in 1969. He pursued his formal education by attending UT, SWTSU, CTC, and ATU. Dan holds the Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Master Certificates from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (1979), Quantico, Virginia. He was awarded the Professional Criminal Investigator's Certificate sponsored by the Texas District and County Attorney's Association. He also has over 2,000 hours of specialized police/corrections training.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Associate Member of Bell-Lampasas-Mill Counties Bar Association; Former Director Texas District & County Attorney's Association Inv. Sec.; Member, FBI National Academy Graduates Association; Past President, Central Texas Police Chief's & Sheriff's Association; Former Sergeant-at-Arms, Sheriffs' Association of Texas; Past Chairman, Legislative Committee, Sheriffs' Association of Texas; Former Member, Gov. Clement's Committee on Prison Crowding; Chairman, Sheriffs' Association of Texas T.C.L.E.O.S.E. Advisory Committee.
COMMUNITY / PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Member, First Baptist Church of Belton Former Scout Leader, Troop 118, Morgan's Point; Former Fire Chief, Morgan's Point Volunteer Fire Department; Past President, Belton Lions Club 1986-87; Past President, Belton Lions Foundation Board; Former City Councilman, City of Morgan's Point 1976-78; Former Instructor, CTC Regional Police Academy; Member, SPJST Lodge 177 (Academy); Past President, Bell County Sheriff's Posse - 1990 and 1998; Former Member, Temple Junior College Criminal Justice Advisory Board; Former Member, Central Texas Regional Police Academy Advisory Board; Former Member, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Advisory Committee; Member, Temple, Belton, Harker Height, and Killeen Chamber of Commerce; Former Instructor, TCLEOSE Administrative School; Member, Killeen/Harker Heights Rotary Club; Past Chairman, T.C.L.E.O.S.E. Alternative Training Delivery Systems Committee.
CHARITABLE AFFILIATIONS
Belton Christian Youth Center Cen-Tex Criminal Justice Ministry Center Cen-Tex Children's Center Peaceable Kingdom March of Dimes United Way of Central Texas Crime Victims Coalition J.A.I.L. Ministry, Inc.
SPECIAL AWARDS / RECOGNITIONS
President, National Sheriffs' Association 1998-99; Selected as 1991 "Lawman of the Year" by Sheriffs' Association of Texas; Received Texas Senate Resolution for Outstanding Law Enforcement Service in 1991; 1992 Recipient of Law Enforcement Commendation Medal, National Society Sons of the American Revolution; Received "Mental Health Humanitarian" Award by Central Counties Center for MH-MR Service; Appointed by Governor George W. Bush as Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Educations, 1999. Appointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2002 to serve a six year term as Chairman and Presiding Officer of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE
Three years uniform patrol officer; two years detective; six years as senior investigator for Bell County Attorney; Elected Bell County Sheriff and took office January 1, 1985; currently serving in his sixth term and twenty-third year as Sheriff; Thirty-four years total law enforcement experience.
BELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Bell County Sheriff's Office has become one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in Texas and the nation. Sheriffs' Office Investigators are often ranked #1 in Texas for clearing major crimes. The Bell County Jail and Jail Administrator were selected #1 in the nation in 1993. The Bell County Jail revenue programs have earned over 39 million dollars for Bell County taxpayers. Annually, Bell County inmates worked over 230,000 man hours on projects both inside and outside of the jail, saving taxpayers over $990,000 in labor costs. In 1987, the J.A.I.L. Ministry was established and has changed the lives of hundreds of inmates by giving them opportunities for spiritual guidance. This program involves over 300 volunteers and 40 churches. In 1988, the Sheriff was instrumental in establishing the Central Texas Narcotics Control Task Force and currently serves as Chairman of that organization. In 1994, the Sheriff established D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programs in all six rural school districts. In 1995, the Sheriff was instrumental in establishing TRIAD, a special crime prevention program to help senior citizens. In 1996, the Sheriff established a K-9 Drug and Trafficking Unit to assist with the drug enforcement effort and to strengthen law enforcement. In 1997, the Sheriff established a Special Response Team (SRT), a Dive Team and a Bike Patrol to strengthen law enforcement. In 2000, Sheriff Smith created a rural C.O.P.S. program to better serve the needs of the isolated rural communities in Bell County. In 2001, Sheriff Smith received a $500,000 grant from the Justice Department for a Child Safety Gun Lock program which provides gun locks free to the citizens of Bell County. In 2004, Sheriff Smith implemented the V.I.N.E. (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) program. In 2005, Sheriff Smith implemented a plan to more aggressively enforce the sex offender registration laws by making physical house checks on registered sex offenders. Sheriff Smith has been a principle organizer / implementer of the new multi-million dollar public safety communications system.