WOOD COUNTY, Texas — A Wood County constable who was found not guilty of ordering his K-9 to bite a suspect announced recently he will not seek reelection.
In June, Wood County Pct. 2 Constable Kelly Smith was acquitted in federal court on both charges of deprivation of rights under the color of the law and falsification of a document. The jury gave the two not guilty verdicts after a weeklong trial at the Tyler federal courthouse.
Smith was accused of directing his K-9 to bite a suspect who did not pose a threat, which resulted in bodily injury, while trying to serve warrants. He was also accused of knowingly falsifying entries in an affidavit.
In a statement on his Facebook page last week, Smith announced he and his K-9 Mata plan to retire at the end of 2024. Smith, who was elected as Wood County Pct. 2 constable in 2020, said it was his intention to serve two terms and then be able to retire.
"Although it was a little “rough-er” (Mata added the bark) than we expected it has all been worth it. When we lay it down Mata will have about six years of service alongside my approximate 27 years as an officer," Smith said. "We look forward to time with our family. We have one more year left, Lord willing, to serve and participle in our community as an active law enforcement team."
Smith thanked everyone who has asked him to run again and he looks forward to seeing people over the next year as election guidelines approach and pass.
Although he has been in ministry since 2005, Smith said that this past year has brought him and his family closer to Christ and noted how trials can bring people closer to God.
He added families and friends stood by him during the case proceedings.
"I hope and pray that if the situation arises again with other officers that those that are not involved in a situation, only provided limited information, and not experts, realize that even a video must be analyzed carefully to see what actually occurred," Smith said. "Thankfully the jury was presented with all of these critical details. We have to let things slide off of us like Teflon. It all works out for good in the end."