Derek Avery began his career in law enforcement in 2001 as a dispatcher with the Magnolia Police Department. After attending the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2005, he spent three years with the city’s patrol division before returning to SAU and joining the University Police Department in 2008. He has served in positions such as patrolman, corporal, investigator, sergeant, and now serves as the assistant chief of police, where he supervises the agency’s patrol and investigative divisions. Asst. Chief Avery is a lifelong resident of Magnolia and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public administration, both from SAU. He has a passion for training, especially in supervision and leadership. He is a graduate of Session LX of the Criminal Justice Institute’s School of Law Enforcement Supervision. In 2022, he received the Trilogy Award from the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association for completion of their Supervisory, Command, and Executive Leadership Institutes. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors and is an avid hunter and guitarist.