Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Longtime Mississippi State policeman Kenneth Rogers now is entering the force’s lead position as chief of police. His appointment brings MSU’s Brian Locke into the role of assistant chief of police, with both officers having a combined 30-plus years with the land-grant university.
Most recently, Rogers served as interim police chief with the MSUPD, a full-service and nationally accredited law enforcement agency. He is responsible for directing over 30 sworn, state-commissioned policemen and approximately 15 full-time support staff, all who work to protect the university community.
Locke, promoted from interim assistant police chief, previously served MSU as veteran and military affairs director. He is assisting Rogers with day-to-day MSUPD operations, which include four patrol shifts and four K-9 detection units. He also is providing support for the department’s programs and services which include security for campus events, crime prevention initiatives and partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to enhance community safety and security.
“MSU is fortunate to have the experienced leadership of Chief Rogers and Assistant Chief Locke in the University Police Department,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt. “Chief Rogers’ years of work in the MSUPD, coupled with Assistant Chief Locke’s involvement with other law enforcement agencies, brings a wealth of knowledge and commitment to positive university policing. We look forward to MSUPD, with these two leaders, continuing to take care of what matters most—the safety and security of our students, employees and visitors.”
While moving up through the ranks at the MSUPD, Rogers served in many of the department’s roles, including captain/patrol division commander, special assignments unit commander and accreditation manager, guiding the unit through three national accreditations. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2012 and, a few years prior, from FBI Mississippi Law Enforcement Command College.
He holds a master’s in public policy and administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from MSU. Currently, he is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, among others.
Before joining MSUPD earlier this year, Locke had led the university’s G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, along with commanding the Starkville Police Department’s Reserve Division. He spent five years as department head of MSU’s Army ROTC program and then retired from the U.S. Army with 23 years of service.
Locke received a master’s in counseling and development from Long Island University in New York State and a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University. Just last fall, he was selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as one of only 22 nationwide named “Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education.”
MSU is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.