About the Chief

Gay Shepherd became the first female on a Tennessee Board of Regents’ campus to hold the title of Chief of Police when she was promoted to the department’s top position in 1996.

Chief Shepherd holds an associate degree in criminal justice from TTU and was trained at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. Along with her 25 years’ experience in law enforcement, she has specialized training in forensics, domestic violence management, child sexual abuse prevention and education, crime scene investigation and other specialized areas.

Since 1979, she has served the TTU Police Department as an officer, lieutenant, criminal investigator and chief. In 1995, she received the university’s Outstanding Staff Award, and in 1996 was named the university’s Outstanding Professional. The TBR awarded her a 2000 Love Community Service Award for her involvement with several community programs including Crimestoppers, Community Watch, the District Attorney’s Child Sexual Abuse Program and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

Under Chief Shepherd’s leadership, the department instituted a bicycle
patrol and increased the use of technology as investigative tools. She also
leads seminars for the campus community on safety, alcohol abuse and sexual
assaults.