Murray State University Interim Chief of Police Jeff Gentry has been re-elected to serve as president of the Kentucky Association of University Law Enforcement Administrators. Gentry has served in that role for the past three years.
The association, comprised of police chiefs and assistant chiefs of the eight Kentucky public higher education institutions, works closely with the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police on policy issues, grants and training across the commonwealth. Administrators such as Gentry also actively work with elected officials on legislation and proposed legislation specific to university law enforcement.
“I want to convey my sincere appreciation to all the chiefs of police at our eight universities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky for their confidence in me to serve as president of the Kentucky Association of University Law Enforcement Administrators,” said Gentry. “We are a team, and I appreciate their dedication and professionalism in serving students, faculty and staff.”
Gentry has served 25 years in policing and was named interim chief of police with the Murray State Police Department in June 2020. He has risen through the ranks of the department, from officer to deputy chief, before being named to his current position. Regarded by many as a collaborative and empowering leader, Gentry’s goals include building upon the department’s community policing by continuing to actively engage with students, parents, faculty and staff.
Earlier this year, Gentry, along with other members of the Murray State Police Department, created a music video to welcome students to the Murray campus for the fall semester. Titled “Welcome Home from the Murray State Police,” the video has reached more than 315,000 people through social media.
Gentry is a graduate of the Department of Criminal Justice Executive Development Program in Richmond, Kentucky, and has served on several civic organizations including the Murray-Calloway County Park Board and the Calloway County Public Library Board of Trustees. In his free time, Gentry is extremely active in his church and enjoys spending time on his tractor and traveling with his wife, Sherida, his son, Clint and his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth.