Sgt. Smith retires from Longboat Key Police Department

By S.T. Cardinal
| 10:30 a.m. June 9, 2026

Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager (right) presents Lee Smith with a plaque recognizing his years with the police department at the June 1 Town Commission meeting. Smith retired from his position as sergeant on May 29.

Longboat Key
News

A longtime sergeant with the Longboat Key Police Department is calling it a career.

Lee Smith began with LKPD in 2012 as an officer, earning promotion to sergeant in charge of overseeing road patrol officers within the department. At the June 1 Town Commission meeting, police officers packed the Town Hall chambers to show support as Sgt. Smith was recognized for his years of service with the town.

“This is a great day and a sad day all wrapped up in one,” Police Chief Russ Mager said. “As a chief, or any supervisor for that matter, it’s hard to watch somebody walk out the door that has a lot of knowledge, training and experience and brings a lot to the table with character and professionalism.”

Sgt. Lee Smith in his patrol car in 2015.

Smith’s experience includes four years with the U.S. Marine Corps as a squad leader. He then shifted to police work, joining the Columbus, Kansas Police Department, then the Oakland, Florida Police Department and Clermont Police Department. He then shifted to a contracting role with Dynacorp where he developed training courses for military and law enforcement.

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming hands the Officer of the Year plaque to Sgt. Lee Smith. — Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming hands the 2018 Officer of the Year plaque to Sgt. Lee Smith.

Smith thanked the town manager, Town Commission and the town as a whole, and said the department is in good hands as he steps away.

“You guys made a great choice in choosing the chief. I think he understands the mission of the Longboat Key town and police department,” Smith said. “I just wanted to thank everybody, all my coworkers who showed up today. Thank you.”

Mager said Smith’s position will be filled internally among officers who have taken the Sergeants Promotional Exam.

author

S.T. Cardinal

S.T. "Tommy" Cardinal is the Longboat Key news reporter. The Sarasota native earned a degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando with a minor in environmental studies. In Central Florida, Cardinal worked for a monthly newspaper covering downtown Orlando and College Park. He then worked for a weekly newspaper in coastal South Carolina where he earned South Carolina Press Association awards for his local government news coverage and photography.