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Undersheriff

Professional Picture of Undersheriff Eric Smith with Flag Background

 

Undersheriff Eric Smith has lived in Coffey County since 1974, when he moved here from Eureka, Kansas with his family. Graduating from Burlington High in 1985, Eric eventually joined the U.S. Air Force and served as an electronics and security technician and codes courier in the Minuteman ICBM weapons systems during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

In 1992, Eric moved back to Coffey County and started as a reserve police officer for the Burlington Police Department in 1994. In 1995, Eric began full-time employment as a police officer, serving as his academy class president in 1996. He moved over to the Coffey County Sheriff's Office in 1997, where he served a little over 4 years, until he went to work for Wolf Creek security after the 9/11 attacks, helping to design and initiate new security features to deter a terrorist attack on our nuclear plant.

Eric came back to the Sheriff's Office in January of 2009 and has been here since. He served 19 years patrolling our roads as Deputy Sheriff, Investigator and Police Officer before being appointed by the Sheriff as the Undersheriff for the current administration.

Undersheriff Smith also serves as the district State Representative, being the only law enforcement officer currently serving in the Kansas legislature.