Story by Alicia Steele, Assistant News Editor
James Herring, six-month retired chief of police from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, will serve as the new chief of police and director of public safety and emergency management effective July 5.
Herring was among the top four candidates who interviewed for the position during the spring semester. Also interviewed was interim chief of police, Roy Dunaway; Robert Spinks, chief of police at McNeese State University, and Klay Peterson, chief of police at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Herring will replace Dunaway who has been the interim chief of police since June 2014.
“I would like to thank Roy Dunaway for his service and willingness to step into the role of interim chief, as his leadership certainly helped moved the department forward,” said Jackie Dudley, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services. “We look forward to welcoming Jamie and his family to the Murray State community.”
Herring told The News the first thing he wants to do as chief of police is get to know the campus and the people of Murray State.
“I need to learn the organization, to see how things are done and why things are done and then go from there,” Herring said. “And then as the students come in, I can start working with the students and see what their concerns are and the kinds of things they’d like to see from the police department.”
Herring said during his six-month retirement he kept up with what was going on in law enforcement, which drove his decision to apply at Murray State.
“I want to be able to make a contribution to the organization and to the field of campus law enforcement as well, while I still have the expertise to do so,” Herring said.
Herring said he chose Murray State because of the appeal of the small town community, the reputation of Murray State and the loyalty of the students, faculty, staff and alumni.
“It seems like people who go there or who have some affiliation with the university are very proud of that affiliation and it goes a long way,” Herring said.