Gil Smith joined WJXT, The Local Station, as crime and safety analyst in 2014 after serving as a police officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for 26 years.
He was honored with an Emmy Award for his special report “Shoot, Don’t Shoot," an eye-opening experiment that put News4Jax reporters in simulated life-threatening situations police face every day.
Gil, the first African-American public information officer for the Sheriff’s Sffice, also served as a fugitive detective, a DARE instructor, a teen court counselor, a school resource officer, and was in the patrol division. He is a sought-after resource and speaker, conducting safety seminars for businesses and nonprofits.
He is in the United Way Reading Pals program, helping to develop reading skills for students in the head start program. Gil works with the Neighborhood Accountability Board working with at-risk teens to teach accountability and help build on their personal strengths and channel talents in a positive direction.
Gil has a BA from Ohio University.