Chief Phil Smith tours Montgomery Police headquarters, outlines evidence, detention and training operations

Chief Phil Smith led a guided tour of the Montgomery Police Department headquarters and described how the agency processes evidence, handles detainees and conducts training.

"I'm Phil Smith, the chief police of Montgomery Police Department," Smith said as he opened the tour, pointing visitors toward the records division and saying those staff members are "literally keeping the glue to this facility." He said the department building was constructed in 2005.

Smith showed the records area and investigators' workspace and explained the role of the investigations unit, saying detectives handle cases that go "beyond the scope of just a regular patrolman" and that investigators carry cases "to conclusion through the courts." He said detectives were "all out in the field" and that the department had "a couple of search warrants going on."

Leading visitors through the detention area, Smith explained the security "man trap" entry and the department's weapons policy: "Our procedure and policy state we can't take firearms into our facility," he said, describing the required secure storage before entry.

Smith pointed out the evidence processing area and long-term, alarmed storage for items the department secures, and noted that the department sends certain analyses to the Illinois State Police crime lab. "Our evidence custodian here processes the evidence, takes it out of the lockers, makes sure it's properly tagged, bagged," he said.

The chief also showed the department's on-site firearms range, describing it as a four-station range used for patrol officer training. He described the roll call room where officers receive twice-daily shift briefings from patrol sergeants and introduced staff in administrative offices, identifying Patrol Commander Liz Pelko, long-serving administrative staff member Ada Rippenger and administrative support services commander Ishmael Diaz. He also introduced a comfort dog, Monty, who is still in training.

The tour proceeded through the administrative portion of the building where Smith said command staff direct policy, procedures and budgeting and noted the deputy commander was at training that day.