Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission has tapped Riley Smoot Jr. from among four sergeants to be the next chief.

Smoot, a Farrell lifer, has been with Southwest or the former Farrell Police Department for 23 years and has been a sergeant since 1982.

"This is my home," Smoot said of why he applied for the job. "I love this area. When the opportunity arose to head our department, it excited me. I get along with the guys and I feel I can do the job."

Smoot's ability to get along with the department members and seemingly everyone else in town was a factor in his choice, said commission Chairman James DeCapua.

Smoot, 45, will work well with "young and old, black and white, good and bad," DeCapua said.

"He has demonstrated a quality of leadership both in the department and the community. He is well-respected."

The commission said it liked Smoot's community involvement. He is chairman of the Farrell Recreation Commission, the recreation committee of Sharon/Farrell Weed and Seed and Communities That Care.

He serves on the boards of Shenango Valley Urban League and Endorse Resistance to All Substance Abuse Everywhere and is past vice president of the Mercer County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The 1975 graduate of Farrell High School also coaches girls softball and referees high school football and basketball games and is extensively involved in church activities.

"I don't have too much down time," he said.

Smoot credited his interest in community activities to being "nosy."

"I really love being a part of these organizations," he said.

It also has helped the department in allowing him to get to know people and break down barriers that make people reluctant to give information to the department.

"They realize that you bleed like they bleed," he said. "It's personal. We found through Weed and Seed and other programs that the community does want to work with you."

Smoot added that he probably will have to step down from some of his outside duties or, at least, from a leadership capacity.

For the last several years, Smoot has worked predominantly in a school environment, as Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer at Farrell and West Middlesex and community resource officer at Farrell High School.

Smoot said it will be difficult to back out of the school district, but he wants to stay on as DARE officer, which only requires about half a day a week, and find other ways to be involved at the school.

"I had an opportunity to grow," he said. "I worked with a lot of students and the school system, which got me tied into the state in different programs. It will hard to let it go."

In the Farrell Police Department, Smoot was detective, juvenile officer and crime prevention officer.

Smoot is married to the former Cheryl Roseboro and has two daughters, Ashley, 17, and Allyson, 14.

The commission received eight applications for chief, but decided early on that only internal candidates would be interviewed.

Commission members said it was difficult to choose between Smoot, Sgt. Douglas Long, Sgt. William Hite and Sgt. Dan Oster.

DeCapua thanked Long for being acting chief in the three months since former Chief Joseph Timko retired.

"He has done an outstanding job," DeCapua said.

Smoot officially begins as chief Jan. 1, but was to begin working on the transition immediately.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at

jpinchot@sharonherald.com