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By Jorge Casuso

November 16 -- Capt. Mark Smiley, a 25-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department and the Commanding Officer of its Office of Special Enforcement, is on leave pending an internal administrative investigation, The Lookout has learned.

Smiley -- who has headed special efforts to tackle gangs and homelessness -- was called into Chief Timothy Jackman’s office on Tuesday and asked to hand over his badge, gun, take-home car, access card and computer passwords, according to an informed source.

Police Department officials confirmed that Smiley was the subject of an internal investigation, but declined to specify the charges or the circumstances behind the dismissal.

“There is an internal administrative investigation,” said Lt. Alex Padilla, the department spokesman.

No information will be released pending the outcome of the investigation, Padilla said.

Smiley currently oversees the Office of Special Enforcement, which includes Traffic and Special Operations and is the largest of the department’s four offices, with 200 personnel and a budget of more than $26 million.

Smiley briefly served as one of three interim chiefs while the City searched for a replacement for former Chief James T. Butts Jr., who left the post last year to head security for Los Angeles area airports.

Smiley also spent two years as the Commander for the Internal Affairs Division, working directly for the Chief of Police.

Smiley joined the department in 1982 and spent 12 years as a police officer before being promoted to sergeant in 1994, according to the department.

In 1998, after being promoted to lieutenant, he was appointed to lead a multi-jurisdictional task force of 50 agencies and groups to stymie gang warfare, which had erupted in and around Santa Monica, resulting in flurry of shootings and deaths.

Smiley also held positions in Special Enforcement, Traffic, Patrol and Internal Affairs before being promoted to Captain nearly six years ago.

As captain, he has held positions in Criminal Investigations, Special Enforcement and Operations, where he served on numerous committees and work groups related to homeless issues.

“He worked closely with City staff including the City Manager’s Office and Community and Cultural Services in bringing about education, prevention and enforcement efforts associated with homelessness,” according to the Police Department web site.

Working closely with the City’s homeless czar, Ed Edelmen, Smiley worked to establish a separate court in Santa Monica to connect the homeless, drug-addicted and mentally ill to services, according to police. The $500,000 pilot project is known as “Community Courts.”

Smiley has been a staunch supporter of the Police Activities League (PAL), helping to raise funds, according to the police web site. He also chairs a committee of more than 50 volunteers for the annual Ricardo Crocker Memorial Golf Tournament.