Greg Smith

I'm a native Kansan. I was born in Emporia and grew up in Overland Park where I attended school in the Shawnee Mission School District, graduating from Shawnee Mission West in 1978. I attended Johnson County Community College until I enlisted in the United States Navy in 1980.

The eighties found me in a number of duty stations while I served in the United States Navy Submarine Service. During this time, while serving as a navy recruiter in Des Moines, IA, I met and married my wife, Missey. I was Honorably Discharged in November of 1989.

After leaving the Navy, I began his law enforcement career in 1990 which continued until 2008. I served as a deputy sheriff in Berkeley County, South Carolina where I was a decorated officer and rose to the rank of lieutenant. I worked extensively in high crime areas, and developed both training materials and policies for the sheriff’s office. In 1995, the incumbent sheriff did not win re-election and my family and I moved home to Kansas. Since that time I've served as a police officer in several communities, including Kansas City, MO, Olathe, KS and the Johnson County Community College Campus Police.

In 2002, I returned to college, while working full time and in 2006 earned a Bachelor’s Degree (cum laude) in History from Avila University. Continuing my education I earned my Kansas Teaching Certification in Social Studies in 2007. I will finish my Master's Degree in Education (summa cum laude) on June 28, 2010.

2007 was also a year of tragedy for me and my family. My daughter, Kelsey Smith, was abducted from an Overland Park department store and murdered. A four day search was conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement. A massive community effort, spearheaded by Kelsey’s family, friends, classmates and concerned citizens, in conjunction with the stellar law enforcement response resulted in Kelsey’s body being recovered and the successful apprehension of her murderer. Her murderer has since pled guilty and is serving life in prison.

Since Kelsey’s murder, Missey and I, as well as my entire family have worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of victim’s rights. The Kelsey Smith Act was passed in Kansas in 2009. This landmark legislation sponsored by Rep. Rob Olson allows law enforcement to quickly utilize cell phone locate information to try and find a person in danger of serious bodily harm or death. I have advocated and lobbied for broader use of the grand jury in Kansas, supporting HB 2226, sponsored by Rep. Lance Kinzer. Additionally, Missey and I started the Kelsey Smith Foundation® which provides education in safety awareness and victim’s rights, as well as informing the general public on violent crime issues. I conduct training at high schools, colleges, businesses and churches throughout the United States and I am frequently asked to speak on the issues of violent crime, missing persons and cell phone issues.

In addition to my duties as Executive Director for the Kelsey Smith Foundation®, I am a high school social studies teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District. My passion as a teacher is to educate our next generation in American history and politics so they can be responsible and productive citizens. Missey and I have five children, Stevie, Lindsey, Kelsey (deceased), Codie and Zach. Lindsey is married to Ryan Evans, a computer engineer. Lindsey and Ryan had their first child, Sarah, in April. Stevie is married to Ryan McLeod, an army specialist currently serving in Iraq. Codie is a sophomore at SM West and Zach is a freshman.

Sarah, My Granddaughter, on the 4th of July