George Smyrnios named FHP Investigator of the year

Nikki Thompson
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Investigator George Smyrnios, formerly of Aucilla, Fla. and graduate of Aucilla Christian Academy, has been awarded the highest accolade an Investigator can achieve with the agency. Smyrnios was named the 2020 FHP Investigator of the Year during the Fifth Annual FHP Awards. George Smyrnios is the son of Gus Smyrnios and Rita Raines. Gus retired from the FHP after 28 years patrolling the counties in Troop H (including Madison, Jefferson, Taylor and Leon.) The Smyrnios’ had identical triplet sons: George, Gus and Manuel Smyrnios, who all three grew up to follow in their father’s footsteps.

George served as an FHP Patrol Trooper for 23 years from 1993 to 2016 with a four-year hiatus from 1996 to 2000, during which time he was employed as a school teacher. (During George’s tenure in North Florida's Troop H division, he also served as the pastor of Pine Grove Baptist Church, in Madison County.)

He returned to the FHP in 2001, serving Troop F, which covers Fort Myers/Lee County and the surrounding counties. George has since remained in Troop F, however, he transferred from patrol to investigations four and a half years ago.
George currently maintains an active role assisting in the Men's Ministry of more than one hundred male parishioners at Summit Church, in Estero, Fla. George and his wife, Angie, also assist with the premarital counseling of young couples at Summit Church.

With the Florida Highway Patrol, George is part of an investigation unit that handles hit and run cold cases resulting in death, great bodily injury and property damage for Troop F. Once a hit and run case has been active for 30 days or more without being solved, the case is sent to George’s unit.
According to George, there are an estimated 400,000 crashes annually in the Sunshine State. Of those, 100,000 are hit and run cases. In 2020, George solved 65 cold hit and run cases, with 20 of those being felonious.

George and Angie Smyrnios have three children; Austin (22), Avery (17) and Alena (16). Austin served as a Combat Medic in the US Army and is currently a Collier County Sheriff's Deputy. Avery is a high school senior set to graduate in May. Alena is a sophomore in high school.