matthew smith

 Matthew is in his second term as Sherriff of Woodford County. He originally joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1984 starting as a Sheriff’s Dispatcher. With over 30 years of public safety experience Matthew has worked his way up the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office. He worked in Communications serving as Interim 911 Communications Director. Worked in both Corrections and Patrol Divisions before moving into Sheriff’s Command. Matthew held the positions of Operations Captain and Chief Deputy before being elected as Sheriff. 

Aside from being Sheriff Matthew has and continues to serve on several boards. He has served on the Woodford County Emergency Telephone Systems Board were he has held the position as board chairman for over 15 years. Matthew is also current chairman of the Police Mobile Training Unit MTU7 Board. And the current chairman of the Peoria Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Group Board. 

Matthew has worked in public safety since the early 1980’s starting in Emergency Management. He was appointed and elected to serve on a Fire Protection District Board were he served as a board officer. Matthew was also appointed to the Parish Members Credit Union Board of Directors were he served for ten years. He also past served on the Woodford County Juvenile Justice Board and the Woodford County Sub-Committee on Domestic Violence. 

Matthew was born and raised in Woodford County in Central Illinois. He attended Illinois Central College after high school. Matthew graduated from University of Illinois Police Training Institute County Correctional Officers Academy in 1989. And University of Illinois Police Training Institute Basic Law Enforcement Officers Academy in 1993.