James Smith

James Smith

Dr. James B. Smith, D.P.A.

 

I received my Associate of Arts degree from Long Beach City College and after which, transferred to CSULB.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. I continued my education at USC in the Doctorate Program, School of Public Administration, graduating in 1987.

 

My career as a police officer for thirty-five years, (eight years with LASD and twenty-seven years with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Investigation) has allowed me tremendous opportunities to serve others.  Training and development of police officers was my role with both law enforcement agencies.  While holding the position of training manager for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office I coordinated hundreds of training programs with local police and sheriff’s department officials including Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) administrators in virtually every area of law enforcement.  Additional assignments included white-collar crime investigations, Secret Service high-tech crime investigations, internal affairs, organized crime, environmental crimes, corrections, child abduction, sex crimes and many more.  In 2013, I retired at the rank of Lieutenant.

 

I have had the opportunity to instruct CSULB students at the graduate and undergraduate levels and have found the undergraduate level to be the most challenging and rewarding.  I have been a part time instructor at Long Beach City College for the past thirty years.  Additionally, I have instructed students at East Los Angeles College, and for the past three years Cerritos College.  This experience coupled with my training duties in law enforcement and as an instructor with POST, has given me the chance to work effectively with students from diverse backgrounds.  I feel one of the most important things a teacher can do in these situations is to help students develop confidence in their own abilities in order to believe that they belong in college and that they can successfully navigate its challenges.