By Pat Culverhouse
Times are changing, and Detective Sgt. Jason Smith wants to help put the Minden Police Department on a path that changes the way crimes are solved and digs deeper into the ‘who’ and ‘why’ of those committing the offenses.
Smith is head of the MPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, supervising a group of detectives that has scored an impressive record of solving cases using a combination of technology and old-fashioned hard work. And, he says, it’s technology that will play a major role in the department’s success.
“We’re working towards fighting crime scientifically and with technology, coupled with good old-fashioned police work,” Smith said. “We have lots of new guys in CID. They’re young enough to know how technology works and how to solve crimes scientifically. That’s going to be our goal.”
Using technology as a major crimefighting tool is reflective of the world today, he said.
“Old fashioned police work is never going to go away, but in 2023 I can solve more crime with a laptop than somebody else can working 12 hours on the street. It’s the way the world works now. We still have to do the leg work, but we will be seeing advancements we can’t imagine today,” he said.
Some of those advancements may help Smith and the CID resolve a murder case that has stymied investigators for a little more than six years.
“We’re working on the Tyronne Sumlin murder case, and we hope with the new information available and advancements we may be able to put handcuffs on a suspect,” Smith said. “These advancements may be opening doors that were not open in 2017.” Sumlin was shot and killed in September, 2017. To date, no arrests have been made.
Smith understands the importance of the new science in solving crime, but he also knows there’s a need to know the individuals who are committing the bad acts. A major tool in his investigative arsenal is his undergraduate degree in forensic psychology from Arizona State University.
“Forensic psychology, I think, is a good mesh between criminal justice and psychology. A forensic psychologist is one who determines if someone is competent to stand trial … their mental capacity,” he explained. “I wanted to have a good foundation because mental health is a big issue in the country and in northwest Louisiana. A lot of crime is committed because of mental health issues.”
And, he’ll soon be seeking a post-grad degree in crime analysis.
“Crime analysis is a new program at ASU that takes analytical crime mapping and developing trends. It will focus on attacking sources of crime scientifically rather than just arresting someone,” Smith said.
Smith began his MPD career in 2018 as a patrol officer. He swapped uniforms to come to Minden, serving 15 years in the U.S. Army as a counter intelligence agent and national security crime investigator. During his time in the Army, he was also an investigations and surveillance instructor at the national counterintelligence academy.
With his experience at the national level, why come to Minden to continue a law enforcement career?
“I’m from here. This is where I think I can have the most impact,” Smith said. “And, we have a good group of people working well together…the pay has been increased so we can be more selective, more competitive. We have better people better suited to the needs of Minden and Webster Parish.”
Funding for the department in both personnel and advanced technology has improved, thanks in part to fundraisers and the state’s Safety Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). Smith also attributes growth and improvement to MPD leadership.
“Under the visionary leadership of our Chief Jared McIver and assistant chiefs Chris Cheatham and Tokia Harrison, we have put the right people in the right place to do the right job,” Smith said. “I’m successful because I have a great team surrounding me. We work all cases together. If I don’t have an answer, someone else will.”
Public perception of police officers has changed dramatically in a short time, and it hasn’t been for the better. Smith said one goal is to get officers into the public where they can interact and be seen as individuals no different than those they serve.
“Being a police officer is not the noble profession it was once perceived to be,” he said. “Incidents like Brianna Taylor and George Floyd and the way the media portrayed them, the police are now seen as the bad guys. We want to put police officers in the public in uniform so kids can associate the uniform with something positive. Most times we see people on the worst days of their lives. We want to be seen actually helping someone.”
Smith said being a police officer is a matter of multitasking, and it’s often a matter of just doing the best possible in a bad situation.
“Cops are a pastor, an attorney, a mental health expert, a marriage counselor…we’re expected to help. If we can go on a call and not make an arrest, and everyone is happy and safe, we’ve done our job,” he said. “I don’t look at arrest stats as the making of a good police officer.”
Efforts to neutralize crime scientifically and with technology are top priorities for Smith and the officers in the department. But, he said, there are a couple of very important things that sit atop his priority list.
“I only care about two things—the safety and security of the citizens of Minden and the health and welfare of the officers in our department,” Smith said.
(Editor’s note: During his interview, Smith reflects on the impact of juvenile crime on Minden. Please see next Wednesday’s edition of the Webster Parish Journal.)