Ephrata PD’s Smith honored with Three Pillars award for service

EPHRATA — Ephrata Police Officer Zach Smith was recognized Wednesday by the Ephrata City Council as the recipient of the city's 2026 Three Pillars Award, an honor given to employees who exemplify the city's core values of doing the right thing, trusting and being trustworthy, and committing to the cause. 

Smith, a nearly five-year employee of the Ephrata Police Dept., received the award during the Aug. 5 city council meeting after being nominated by Sgt. Jack McLaughlin. 

In a proclamation read during the meeting, city officials cited Smith's dedication to public service, investigative work and "results-driven policing" that recovered taxpayer funds and improved community safety. 

The proclamation noted that Smith's efforts reflected the city's three guiding principles while demonstrating excellence as a law enforcement officer serving Ephrata residents. 

Mayor Steve Oliver said Smith's professionalism and attitude made him a worthy recipient of the award. 

"I've dealt with him before, just because he's been nearby, and I flagged him down," Oliver said in an interview Thursday. "He's just a great example of what we want to have. He was polite, friendly, attentive. Everything you could ask for, he was helpful." 

Oliver said Smith's reputation among both coworkers and the public contributed to the citywide recognition. 

"When you have someone that's polite and courteous and on time and really takes their job seriously, everyone does notice," Oliver said. "It just reinforces the culture that we're starting there." 

While city officials did not specify a single incident behind the award, City Administrator Ray Towry said Smith's work investigating a Grant County Public Works fraud case played a significant role in the decision. 

"That was certainly a piece of it," Towry said. "That was an exemplary piece of investigation and diligence on behalf of the taxpayer." 

In June 2025, Smith investigated a theft-by-deception case involving nearly $600,000 in fraudulent checks issued by Grant County Public Works after scammers impersonated a legitimate vendor. 

Working with county officials and Chase Bank, Smith traced one check worth approximately $150,000 that had already been cashed and helped facilitate the recovery and return of the funds. 

At the time, Ephrata Police Chief Erik Koch praised Smith's efforts. 

"A lot of times you can't track down where the money went," Koch said in 2025. "Most of the time, the money disappears faster than we can get our hands on it. So it's pretty impressive that we were able to find it, secure it and get it back to the victim." 

Towry noted that the investigation benefited more than just Ephrata residents. 

"Keep in mind that he did it for Grant County, not for the city of Ephrata," Towry said. "What he did had a positive effect on everybody in Grant County." 

Oliver said Smith's recognition extends beyond a single case and reflects the type of employee the city hopes to retain long term. 

"I see him as the next generation of lasting for a full career there," Oliver said. "Officer Smith is young and he's tranquil, and as you can see, he's learning everything he can, and he's actually practicing what he learns. He's really what we look for when we find candidates for this job." 

The mayor also emphasized the importance of recognizing exceptional public employees. 

"Being recognized and getting the attaboy, anybody loves those," Oliver said. "They're not handed out enough to enough people that really do deserve them." 

During the council meeting, officials formally declared Smith the city's 2026 Three Pillars Award recipient and designated Aug. 5 as City of Ephrata Employee Appreciation Day. 

Oliver said Smith's recognition reflects the direction city leadership hopes to continue moving. 

"We're really trying to make it the place where people want to come to and set up a business and move and have their family raised here," he said. "Officer Smith has been outstanding. He was recognized for his outstanding performance, and I think you can do that with almost any of our officers as we speak. They're all very good and very committed to the cause."