LEXINGTON – Operation UNITE President/CEO Dan Smoot will head the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police for the next year.

DSC_0147Smoot was sworn in by 27th District Circuit Court Judge Thomas Jensen during the organization’s annual banquet on Wednesday, July 31.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be able to work with law enforcement agencies across Kentucky,” Smoot said. “One of the themes of this year’s conference was cooperation among all police agencies, and participation at this year’s annual training conference is proof that we’re moving in the right direction.”

The Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP) was formed in 1971 to secure official and personal cooperation among law enforcement executives and the citizens of Kentucky. The membership consists of more than 500 Kentucky law enforcement executives including police chiefs, sheriffs, state and federal law enforcement administrators and railroad police.

The KACP is involved in many law enforcement programs to assist police chiefs, sheriffs and law enforcement executives. Their demanding accreditation program allows agencies to demonstrate they have met accepted standards for efficient and effective operations.

This year’s conference, hosted by Operation UNITE, featured keynote presentations by U.S. Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway and U.S. District Judge Amul Thapar.

Smoot is a 1982 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. That same year he entered the Kentucky State Police Academy. After graduating the academy, Mr. Smoot was assigned to Post 13 in Hazard, Kentucky, where he served for 22 years – 14 in the Narcotics Division. He has participated in more than 1,000 drug investigations and has been called to testify in both state and federal courts as a qualified expert in drug investigations.

While with Kentucky State Police, Mr. Smoot received two Meritorious Service Awards, two Commissioner Commendations and was selected the 2002 State Wide Trooper of the Year. In November 2003, he was named the Director of Law Enforcement for Operation UNITE. Mr. Smoot presently serves as the 1st Vice President of the Kentucky Narcotics Officers Association and 1st Vice President of the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police. In September of 2011 he was named the Vice President of Operation UNITE where he oversaw the day-to-day operations. He was named President of the organization in May 2013.