The City of Smithville Police Department said goodbye to long time employee, Lt. Detective Matt Holmes on Friday.

After nearly 13 years with the City of Smithville, Holmes announced an early retirement. On Friday, May 29, 2020, Police Chief Mark Collins and Captain Steven Leffew presented Lt. Holmes with a plaque honoring his service to the City of Smithville.

Holmes was employed by the City of Smithville in September of 2007 as a patrolman. He was promoted to Detective in 2010 and later promoted in 2014 to Lieutenant responsible for overseeing the Investigation Division within the Police Department. Holmes is a graduate of the Walter State Police Academy, Basic TBI Investigation School, as well as TBI’s Advanced Crime Scene School.

“Since becoming Chief in 2015, Lt. Holmes has been a valuable asset to the Smithville Police Department in his creative ways at solving cases to his excellent leadership skills. We will be losing someone with experience/knowledge and the desire to always do the right thing and he will be greatly missed,” said Chief Collins.

Captain Leffew said, “Matt was an outstanding investigator; I have watched him close out cases in amazing ways. Matt is a humble person and has always went out of his way to help. He will be miss tremendously.”

“The City of Smithville has been a phenomenal place to work and I consider everyone to be like family. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to begin the next chapter in my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has given me the ability to serve the citizens of Smithville. I will always be indebted to you and I will regard the time I have spent here as some of my fondest memories,” said Lt. Holmes