Camden County Mourns Death of Longtime Sheriff Bill Smith

Camden County is mourning the loss of a law enforcement legend this week.

Former Sheriff Bill Smith, who served Camden County for more than two decades, has died. Current Sheriff James Chaney confirmed Smith’s Death Saturday morning.

Smith led the Camden County Sheriff’s Office from 1985 until 2008, marking 23 years of dedicated service to the coastal Georgia community.

“Sheriff Smith was a very familiar face in Camden County and a significant figure in the history of our Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Chaney said in a statement released Friday. “Throughout his long tenure, he worked with countless deputies, many of whom still serve today.”

According to Chaney, Smith’s influence extended far beyond his years in office. The current sheriff worked under Smith during his early career with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office.

“I had the opportunity to work for Sheriff Smith during my time with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and I’m grateful for the experience,” Chaney said. “He gave many of us the opportunity to grow in our careers and serve our community in meaningful ways.”

Chaney credited Smith with helping shape his own path in law enforcement.

“His influence is part of my own story in law enforcement, and I’ll always appreciate the path that allowed me to serve Camden County then and now,” the current sheriff said.

Smith’s tenure represents an important chapter in Camden County’s law enforcement history. His time in office spanned more than two decades of growth and change in the coastal community located along the Georgia-Florida border.

Details about funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.