Link


Social

Embed


Download

Download
Download Transcript

[Police Chief Swearing-in Ceremony]

[00:00:02]

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN THE SWEARING IN OF CHIEF DAVID SMITH TODAY.

AT THIS TIME, PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE THE CEREMONY.

AND IF YOU CAN PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS.

AND AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO PLEASE WELCOME THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD.

LEFT FACE. PRESENT ARMS. PLEDGE. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ORDER! ARMS! POST.

FOR MARCH.

THANK YOU TO THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME POLICE CHAPLAIN FOR THE INVOCATION.

GOOD MORNING. WILL YOU PLEASE BOW WITH ME? ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, OUR SOURCE OF STRENGTH, WISDOM AND PEACE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO SERVE WITH DEDICATION AND WITH SACRIFICE.

AS WE SWEAR IN CHIEF DAVID SMITH, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRANT HIM WISDOM TO LEAD COURAGE TO DECIDE RIGHTLY AND INTEGRITY TO SERVE AND HONOR.

MAY EVERYONE WHO SERVES ON HIS LEADERSHIP BE PROTECTED AND BLESSED, AND MAY YOUR PEACE CONTINUE TO REST UPON THIS CITY.

WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU. CHAPLAIN. PLEASE BE SEATED.

A LONG TIME AGO. WE ALL WE ALL COMFORTABLE. AT THIS TIME, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION, CITY LEADERSHIP, ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND THE JUDICIARY, REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE SMITH FAMILY, AND ALL THE GUESTS WHO ARE PRESENT WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CURRENTLY, ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS IS NOT WITH US.

HE ASKED ME TO JUST GIVE A BRIEF STATEMENT. HE REGRETS COMMISSIONER ARNOLD GAINES REGRETS THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MORNING'S SWEARING IN OF OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF AS A CERTIFIED MEMBER OF THE CITY'S RETIREMENT BOARD, HE'S CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE TRUSTEE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CLASS OF 2025 THROUGH THE

[00:05:05]

FLORIDA PUBLIC PENSION TRUSTEE ASSOCIATION. THIS PROGRAM ENHANCES HIS EXPERTISE AND SUPPORTS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CITY'S RETIREMENT FUND.

COMMISSIONER GAINES LOOKS FORWARD TO THIS NEW CHAPTER FOR THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UNDER THE NEW DIRECTION OF CHIEF SMITH. AT THIS TIME, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE HONORABLE MAYOR HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TO SEE THIS CHAMBER FULL OF LEADERS ALONG THE TREASURE COAST.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT.

AS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WE CALL OURSELVES THE SUNRISE CITY.

AND I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHY WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL SUNRISES HERE.

I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU THAT TODAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026, IS THE 125TH BIRTHDAY OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

SO WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT'S THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND SO WE'RE HALF HALF THEIR AGE, HALF THE NATION'S AGE.

SO WE HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF. AND IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR CITY, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE MUCH TO WORK ON.

SO TODAY, WE WELCOME DAVID SMITH AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS FRIENDS AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY, AND WE ARE SO GLAD HE'S GOING TO CALL FORT PIERCE HOME BECAUSE HE'S GOT A REAL TREAT IN FOR HIM. AND THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN FORT PIERCE, WE KNOW HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS PLACE IS.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT WE'RE THE TREASURE COAST. AND WHY WERE THE TREASURE COAST RIGHT.

AND I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT IT IS, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF TREASURE DOWN THERE FOR YOU TO FIND.

WE ARE NAMED FOR A SEMINOLE FORT THAT WAS IN THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR, AND WE ARE THE COUNTY SEAT OF SAINT LUCIE COUNTY.

THE US COAST GUARD HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1934, AND YOU'LL FIND THEM A GOOD PARTNER.

THE US NAVY TRAINED SAILORS HERE IN WORLD WAR TWO.

AND THOSE SAILORS STORMED THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY AND HELPED END WORLD WAR TWO, AND THEY BECAME THE NAVY SEALS.

YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT OUR ARTISTS. FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN.

WE LOST TWO JUST THIS WEEK. AND BEANIE BACKUS.

AND YOU'LL SEE THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES THAT THEY THAT THEY PAINTED TO SHOW WHAT FLORIDA, OLD FLORIDA, REAL FLORIDA IS ABOUT. YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE A STATUE HERE FOR CEECEE ROSS LYLES, WHO WAS A FORMER FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER AND WHO WAS ON FLIGHT UNITED FLIGHT 93 AS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED THAT PLANE CRASH IN SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AND YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW, ZORA NEALE HURSTON LIVED AND DIED HERE.

AND SHE WAS VERY FAMOUS AS A RENAISSANCE AUTHOR AND ANTHROPOLOGIST.

YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FORT PIERCE INLET, WHICH IS THE SHORTEST, THE SAFEST IN THE DEEPEST INLET ON THE ATLANTIC COAST.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT INLET, IT WAS MAN MADE IN 1921.

WE NOW HAVE A PORT, A PORT OF FORT PIERCE. AND THAT INLET CONNECTS TO THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, WHICH IS VERY, VERY PRECIOUS TO US. AND WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT THE LAGOON.

SO WE WERE A MAJOR STOP ON THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILROAD IN 1894.

AND THAT REALLY CAUSED AN EXPLOSION OF GROWTH IN OUR CITY.

AND SO PEOPLE CAME DOWN TO WORK ON THE RAILROAD TO ENJOY OUR WEATHER, TO LAND, SPECULATE, AND TO SEEK A HEALTHY CLIMATE. SO OUR ROOTS ARE IN AGRICULTURE FOR THE MOST PART.

FISHING AND PINEAPPLE AND CITRUS AND CATTLE RANCHING.

AND SO WE WERE THAT AS OUR HISTORY. AND NOW WE ARE BECOMING SOMETHING ELSE, BUT WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT WE ARE BECOMING.

WE HAVE 50,000 RESIDENTS NOW. AND THEY THEY WANT US TO KEEP THE OLD FLORIDA SMALL TOWN FEEL OF FORT PIERCE. AND SO THAT'S OUR CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE GROWTH.

WE HAVE AN A-RATED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE HAVE AN AWARD WINNING INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE.

IT'S AFFORDABLE AND PRODUCES A LOT OF GRADUATES WHO ACTUALLY, YES, GET JOBS.

SO YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT OVER A CENTURY, OUR DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SERVED IN THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE RESOURCES OUR OFFICERS NEED TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK GOD EACH DAY FOR THE PROTECTION PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY AND BY LAW ENFORCEMENT,

[00:10:09]

AND WE PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY, AND WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE SACRIFICE OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

LASTLY, THERE IS NO DIVIDING LINE IN OUR CITY.

WE ARE ONE FORT PIERCE, EQUAL IN EVERY WAY IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

AND SO, CHIEF, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND MAY GOD BLESS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, OUR FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR HUDSON. IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE AUTHORITY OF COMMAND IS NOT ASSUMED.

IT IS ENTRUSTED. THE CEREMONIAL SUCCESSION OF COMMAND REPRESENTS THE RESPONSIBILITY VESTED IN THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE. AT THIS TIME, INTERIM CHIEF ROBERT RIDDLE WILL PRESENT THE SYMBOL OF COMMAND TO CHIEF DAVID SMITH, FORMALLY RECOGNIZING HIM AS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

THERE'S NO WAY I'M FITTING BEHIND THIS. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING. I SEE SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES.

I SEE A LOT OF NEW FACES. I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I THINK IT'S FITTING, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUR NEW CHIEF A NEW BADGE, THAT I TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT. OUR BADGE A POLICE OFFICER'S BADGE IS THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SYMBOL OF POLICE SERVICE IN THE WORLD.

IT STANDS FOR MANY THINGS TO INCLUDE LEGAL AUTHORITY, PUBLIC TRUST, HONOR, DUTY, AND SACRIFICE.

OUR BADGE WAS REDESIGNED IN 2007 BY ONE OF OUR OWN OFFICERS TO BETTER REPRESENT THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ON THE FRONT OF THE BADGE, YOU SEE, THERE'S SYMBOLS OF THE CITY, A LEAPING SAILFISH, AND A SUNRISE.

ON THE REAR OF THE BADGE ARE THE NAMES OF FOUR OFFICERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS AND ABOVE THEIR NAMES.

IT READS, SERVING IN HONOR OF OUR FALLEN BRETHREN.

NOW THERE'S THESE CORE WORDS THAT WE HEAR IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL THE TIME HONOR, TRUST, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, COURAGE, KNOWLEDGE. I COULD KEEP GOING ON AND ON.

AND YOU THROW ALL THESE WORDS INTO A BOX AND YOU PULL OUT. THREE.

AND I PROMISE YOU THIS, THOSE THREE WORDS ARE ON A PATROL CAR SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA.

SOME DEPARTMENT'S MOTTO. ALL MY LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THOSE WORDS HAVE MEANING. THEY'RE IMPORTANT.

THOSE CORE VALUES ARE WHAT DRIVE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE GREAT.

THEY'RE WHAT DRIVE LEADERS TO BE LEADERS. I HAD THE PLEASURE THIS WEEK OF HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF SMITH.

A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS. AND WE TALKED ABOUT LEADERSHIP.

WE TALKED ABOUT VALUES. WE TALKED ABOUT MANAGEMENT.

WE TALKED ABOUT OUR AGENCIES, WHERE WE'VE COME FROM, WHERE WE'RE GOING.

WE TALKED ABOUT AREAS THAT MAYBE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND NEW THINGS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

AND THERE WAS A CORE VALUE AT ALL OF EVERYTHING HE SAID, AND HE NEVER SAID THE WORD.

I WAS PAYING ATTENTION. AND THAT WAS SERVICE.

IT WAS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS SERVICE TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

IT WAS SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION. SERVICE TO THE MISSION.

IT'S IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RANK. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE STARS ON HIS COLLAR.

IT'S ABOUT THE GREATER GOOD. IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING AN ORGANIZATION GREAT TO GO FORWARD.

AND I'M AS EXCITED AS I HAVE EVER BEEN. I AM, I'M PROUD OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

I'M EXCITED WHERE WE'RE GOING. I'M EXCITED FOR THE CITIZENS.

I'M EXCITED FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE DAVID SMITH AS OUR NEW CHIEF.

SIR, IF YOU WOULD COME UP.

IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR AND HUMILITY THAT I PRESENT DAVID SMITH, THE CHIEF OF POLICE BADGE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

THEY'RE A LITTLE WORRIED THEY MIGHT STAB ME.

THAT SCARED ME.

[00:15:07]

HERE, I'LL HOLD THEM.

THANK YOU. SO AT THIS TIME THE OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY OUR CITY CLERK, LINDA COX. PUT THAT RIGHT THERE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I DAVID SMITH. I DAVID SMITH, A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND BEING EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND BEING EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND A RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS AS SUCH, EMPLOYEE AND RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS AS SUCH EMPLOYEE DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.

AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU.

MAY BE SEATED. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF DAVID SMITH.

SMITH. THANK YOU. AND I'M MUCH OF A PODIUM SPEAKER GUY, SO CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YEAH. ALL RIGHT, SO I WANT TO START BY THANKING EVERYBODY FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY DAY TO BE HERE.

IT MEANS A LOT. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE UP FRONT.

I SEE A LOT OF WINTER COATS. I HITCHED A RIDE ON MY TRUCK WHEN I DROVE DOWN HERE LAST WEEK.

SO I APOLOGIZE. I HAD TO USE AN ICE SCRAPER TODAY.

FORTUNATELY FOLKS HAD SOME BUT I WANT TO START BY SAYING TO THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST YOU'VE PLACED IN ME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AS THE POLICE CHIEF.

I'M HUMBLED BY YOUR CONFIDENCE, AND I TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.

TO MY FAMILY. MY WIFE IS HERE ALONG WITH MY YOUNGEST SON, LOGAN.

MY FATHER IN LAW, JACK, MY BROTHER STEPHON. I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

IS ANYONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOWS? YOU DON'T DO THIS BY YOURSELF.

AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IF I DIDN'T HAVE THEIR SUPPORT, THEIR PATIENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

WORKING NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS. SUPPORTING ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS I WANTED TO DO TO ADVANCE IN MY CAREER.

TO MY FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. DAWN, ANGIE, JOHN AND THOSE THAT COULDN'T BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ON THE LIVE STREAM. YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT MEAN MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW.

TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I RECOGNIZE I'M COMING INTO THE ORGANIZATION FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPROACHED THIS ROLE WITH RESPECT FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE EXPERIENCE AND DEDICATION THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.

AND MY GOAL IS TO LISTEN AND LEARN AND EARN TRUST EVERY DAY WHILE SERVING ALONGSIDE YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE, READY TO GET STARTED.

AND AGAIN, I THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU CHIEF. AT THIS TIME, PLEASE WELCOME RICHARD CHESS, CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M HERE TO GIVE THE CLOSING STATEMENTS.

BUT BEFORE I ACTUALLY JUST PARTICULARLY CLOSE OUT, I WANT TO REFLECT ON WHAT TODAY REPRESENTS TO OUR CITY.

THIS MORNING, WE FORMALLY WELCOME OUR NEW POLICE CHIEF AND HONORED.

THAT CARRIES IMMENSE RESPONSIBILITY, TRUST AND EXPECTATION.

CHIEF SMITH, TODAY YOU ACCEPT NOT JUST THE BADGE OR TITLE, BUT THE CONFIDENCE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND TO GUIDE THIS DEPARTMENT WITH PROFESSIONALISM,

[00:20:01]

COURAGE AND COMPASSION TO OUR MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.

YOUR PRESENCE TODAY UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MOMENT AND THE SHARED COMMITMENT WE HAVE TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY.

THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY OF CHIEF SMITH. THANK YOU.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NEVER CALLING CARRIED BY ONE PERSON ALONE.

YOUR PATIENCE, SACRIFICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT MAKES THIS SERVICE POSSIBLE, AND WE RECOGNIZE THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN SUPPORTING THIS NEW CHAPTER.

THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO CHIEF RILEY.

YOU KNOW, CHIEF, YOU AND I HAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL DISCUSSIONS GOING OFF SCRIPT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, CHIEF, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PERSONAL DISCUSSIONS. I RESPECT YOU NOT ONLY AS A CHIEF, BUT AS A MAN OF HONOR, OF GOOD INTEGRITY, OF LEADERSHIP.

AND I'LL GET BACK TO THE SCRIPT HERE. BUT THE YEARS OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION IS AND HAS A LASTING IMPACT ON THIS DEPARTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SPECIFICALLY, WE THANK YOU FOR THE EXAMPLE YOU SET AND THE FOUNDATION YOU HAVE TO HELP ESTABLISH TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU. AND FINALLY TO THE RESIDENTS, CITIZENS HERE TODAY AND THOSE WATCHING FROM AFAR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED, FOR HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE, AND FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN BUILDING A SAFE, RESPECTFUL, RESPECTFUL AND UNITED COMMUNITY. CHIEF SMITH, WE WISH YOU SUCCESS AS YOU LEAD OUR OFFICERS AND STAFF FORWARD.

YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT, OUR CONFIDENCE AND OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO SERVE THIS CITY WITH HONOR.

CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME UP CHAPLAIN SHAZIER AGAIN FOR OUR BENEDICTION.

PLEASE BOW WITH ME. GOD. AS WE CONCLUDE THIS CEREMONY, WE PRAY THAT YOUR BLESSINGS WILL REST UPON CHIEF SMITH.

REST UPON THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE FORT PIERCE COMMUNITY.

WE PRAY THAT ALL OF US WHO SERVE, THAT YOU WILL BIND US WITH CORDS OF LOVE, RESPECT AND UNITY.

CORDS THAT ARE SO TIGHT THAT IT CANNOT BE BROKEN.

AND WE PRAY THAT PEACE WILL STAND. WATCH OVER THIS CITY TODAY AND EVERY DAY.

FORWARD. AMEN. AMEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S SWEARING IN CEREMONY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT OCCASION. YOU'RE INVITED TO REMAIN FOR A BRIEF RECEPTION AND TO GREET CHIEF SMITH.

AND AT THIS TIME, THIS CEREMONY IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.