Recently retired Chief Gary Woodruff is a 40-year law enforcement veteran, serving in the US Army Military Police/Criminal Investigations Division, Frankfort (IN) Police Department, and Lawrence (IN) Police Department.
Gary started his career in 1983, joining the US Army Military Police, where after completing Basic Training & MP School at Ft McClellan, AL, he was assigned to the US Forces Police station in Kaiserslautern, Germany, a joint Army/Air Force law enforcement operation serving the largest American community outside of the US. For his last year of military service, Gary was assigned as an Investigator at the US Army Criminal Investigations Division office at Ft Harrison, IN.
Upon concluding his commitment to the military, Gary joined the Frankfort (IN) Police Department, graduating from the 89th Session of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. At Frankfort PD, Gary initially served in the Patrol Division, eventually earning promotion as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division, attained the rank of Captain, served as the Project Director of a multi-jurisdictional Federal, State, and Local drug task force, was the department Public Information Officer, and responsible for dignitary protection, among other duties.
In 2000, Gary transferred to the Lawrence (IN) Police Department, where he served the remaining 24 years of his career, primarily as a detective in the Investigations Division, two years as Commander of the Investigations Division, served as the department's Public Information Officer/Media Relations Chief, provided dignitary/executive protection, was appointed Deputy Chief in 2010, and as Chief of Police in 2022.
During his career, Gary earned several certifications as a use of force instructor, regularly guest instructing at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and across the US as a contract instructor.
Post-retirement, Gary continues leveraging his career experiences as a consultant, contractor, instructor, media analyst, and dignitary/executive protection provider.
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