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Grenada native Garrett Hartley has recently been promoted to chief of police at the Grenada Campus and brings over 20 years of experience to the post.
Prior to being named chief at Holmes, he served as a campus police officer at the Grenada Campus.
“I always heard Holmes was a wonderful place to work and decided to give it a shot,” Hartley said. “It has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my family, work and myself. It’s nice to show up to work and always feel appreciated.
“Holmes Community College has been wonderful,” he added. “It’s like one big happy family. Everybody is always helping and looking out for one another. It’s a positive atmosphere and always nice to hear ‘Good Morning’, ‘How’s your day?’, ‘Hope you had or will have a good weekend!’ etc. You feel welcome and it makes you enjoy coming to work. A downfall is putting on extra weight because somebody is always bringing food and snacks.”
Hartley says the Grenada Campus provides a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors to the campus. “I think we can add a few more lights and cameras to cover a couple of blind spots,” he said to improve campus safety.
“For the last 24 years I have worked in law enforcement in my hometown Grenada,” Hartley said. “I’ve had career opportunities that would have taken me out of Grenada but this is my home. This is my family and friend’s home where most of them will have family members attending programs at Holmes Community College Grenada Campus.”
Prior to coming to Holmes, Hartley served as chief of police for the city of Grenada. Before becoming chief, he was the narcotics and training officer moving up the ranks from patrolman to captain. During his career, he also served as an investigator with the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure. He started in law enforcement as a patrolman with the Grenada Police Department.
Hartley has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Delta State University. Prior to attending Delta State, he also took classes at Holmes.
He also graduated from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Office Training Academy in Pearl in the basic law enforcement and the certified investigator programs. He took the handgun/shotgun and tactical rifle instructor course with Total Control Training Institute in Benton, the handgun/shotgun law enforcement firearms instructor course with the National Rifle Association in Tupelo and the Glock armorer’s course in Pearl.
He also has training in Title IX, diversity, civilian response to active shooter, officer safety, rapid response to active shooter, pursuit policy, emergency vehicle operation, pharmaceutical diversions, site safety, incident command, interview and interrogation and basic narcotics investigations.
Hartley and his wife, Karen, have two sons, Will, 17, and Hayes, 9. Karen has owned and operated Puddleducks in Grenada for the past 16 years. His parents, David and Sherrye Hartley, are both retired teachers in the Grenada School District.
