Meet the New Commander of the Ridgeway Police Precinct

Colonel John D. Smith isn’t just the new Commander at the Ridgeway Station, where Kirby Pines is located, he used to be a member of the Kirby Pines family. During high school, Colonel Smith worked in dietary as a dishwasher. He attended and played football for Kirby High School and graduated in 1989. He is a veteran of the Navy and Navy Reserves, retiring after 25 years as a Lieutenant. He joined the Memphis Police Department in 1995 and was just appointed Commander of the Ridgeway precinct in March.

Colonel Smith is pictured here with a custom 1999 Harley Davidson designed by Joe B. Reed. Joe was inspired by his love of motorcycles, airplanes and Memphis so he created this motorcycle version of “Memphis Belle”. Joe died in 2021 but as a tribute to both Joe and the Memphis Belle, it is now touring for display, photography and memorializing the Memphis Belle trivia around Memphis.