Smithville Detective Matt Holmes has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, effective July 1.
The aldermen Monday night voted unanimously to make the promotion upon the recommendation of Police Chief Randy Caplinger. Holmes’ status as detective will be elevated to lead detective within the police department with this promotion.
“Even though he is young, Matt is one of the older officers here,” said Chief Caplinger. “When Matt was promoted to detective, it carries the rank of a sergeant. If anyone can’t reach me, he is the man they call if we are going to a crime scene. I use him in a lot in the supervisory positions. The men (police officers) have a real good rapport with Matt. He has been a very special officer for all of us. Since he (Matt) has been here if you’ll go back a few years I think you’ll notice how much of a change there has been in investigations and crimes that have been solved. There has been a lot of good things done. We’ve really worked a good undercover drug program. We’re still working that. We’re working on a lot of things right now. As a detective, you are really not supervising the men. If he needs someone on the scene, he is in charge of that scene. As far as being a supervisor in other capacities, whether it be on a wreck or whatever, then he (Matt) has that authority (as lieutenant) to tell those officers what we need to be doing if I’m not here. The promotion will take effect July 1 with the new budget. I want to use Matt now for about the next month and a half until July 1 to help me in this capacity, to be learning and doing things. He has put a lot of effort into this (career) and he has a lot of specialized training,” said Chief Caplinger
“I’m very proud of Matt Holmes,” said Alderman and Police Commissioner Shawn Jacobs. “He came to work for us before I was even on the council. You could tell there was something special about Matt even then. As he was eventually promoted to detective and now receiving another department promotion tonight to lead detective, we have something to be very proud of in Matt and also detective (Brandon) Donnell. I think we have two of the best. I don’t think a town this size could want anything any better than these two men and I’m just very proud of the job they do and the rapport they have with the people as well. They are just fine young men and I hope they become fine old men in the service of the Smithville Police Department,” said Alderman Jacobs.
After graduating from DeKalb County High School, Detective Holmes furthered his education at the Tennessee Technology Center. He graduated from Walter State Community College and began his career with the Smithville Police Department in 2007. Holmes was later promoted to the rank of Detective.
He is a graduate of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation School and is certified by the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force in drug diversion and the Tennessee Meth Task Force. Holmes is certified in Child Passenger Safety, the United States Department of Justice Amber Alert training and technical assistance program and Pharmaceutical Overdose Death Investigations. During Detective Holmes’ six years of employment, he has been awarded three departmental commendations for criminal investigations and narcotics arrests.
In other business, the aldermen named Dwain Snow to fill the unexpired term of Clay Farler on the city planning commission. Farler recently resigned the position.
The mayor and aldermen will also meet in an informal workshop on Tuesday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. at city hall to make preparations for the 2013-14 city budget. Janice Plemmons, the city’s financial advisor will also meet with the board during the workshop. “We will have the departmental heads come in and they will give us their wish list and go over the major projects for the upcoming year,” said Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson.