After serving as a member of the Murray State University Police Department for nearly 23 years, Jeff Gentry has retired from his position as police Chief.

Gentry was appointed as interim police chief in 2020, and in 2021, the interim tag was removed from his title. 

“When I became chief, that was a very humbling experience,” Gentry said. “Dr. Jackson and the administration had the confidence in me to lead this department.” 

Over the course of his career, Gentry enjoyed being able to play a role in the campus community and work closely with those on campus.

“Being a university officer, you have a lot of impact on students, faculty and staff,” Gentry said. “And for me, getting to know students from when they come here as a freshman on Great Beginnings to when you get to see them graduate and walk across the stage was a blessing.”  

terms of public service, Gentry is walking away with nearly 34 years of service under his belt. Before he worked with MSUPD, he worked with Calloway County Sheriff’s Department, Murray Police Department and the Murray Fire Department. 

After his time in public safety, Gentry said he thought announcing his retirement would be one of the easiest decisions he would ever make. 

“Announcing my retirement was the hardest decision I ever made,” Gentry said. “I’m very sad to be leaving, but I also know that…it was the right thing for me to do at that time, even though it’s going to be hard saying goodbye since this has been home for me for 23 years.”

Gentry’s retirement ceremony was held on Wednesday, Feb. 8 in the Alexander Hall Atrium. The ceremony not only highlighted Gentry but also former MSUPD Captain Ryan Orr’s promotion to interim police chief. 

Orr has worked with MSUPD for nearly 20 years. As captain, Orr was second in command to Gentry and is honored to be taking on the interim police chief position. 

“I’m excited, obviously a little nervous, because it’s a big role to take on a lot of responsibility,” Orr said. “It’s kind of what I’ve prepared for over the years, and it’s what I’ve wanted to do. It’s kind of the pinnacle of my career to be able to come in here and the department that I’ve worked for for so long to be able to lead that department.”

Before he started working at MSUPD, Orr was a sheriff’s deputy for Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department.  

“Even though I was in a small county, there was only the sheriff, and I was the deputy and that kept us busy all the time,” Orr said. “At Murray State, we have a little more time to stop and provide more community-oriented policing and be able to…do classes on safety.”

Along with working with MSUPD for nearly two decades, Orr is a Murray State alum and worked with Gentry during his time as a student when he was part of Racer Patrol. 

Now filling Gentry’s shoes, Orr wants to continue playing an important role in the campus community and ensure transparency between MSUPD and the campus community.

 “I think it’s important to be transparent, to develop that trust between the university community and the police department,” Orr said. “A lot of people come from areas where they don’t trust the police, because they don’t have that opportunity to interact, the police aren’t transparent or they don’t have the opportunity to interact with the police.” 

After working with Gentry since his start with MSUPD, Orr said he is impressed with the impact Gentry has had on the campus community, and looks forward to doing the same. 

“I want to continue what Chief Gentry has obviously done, keep providing that to the faculty, staff and students and let them know that we’re here for them,” Orr said.