A love for Southern Arkansas University brought Jeffrey L. Jester out of retirement to serve as the new University Chief of Police.
“Everything I have in life is because of SAU, and this is a way for me to pay something back,” said Jester, who started in his new position at SAU on October 12. “I didn’t have to go back to work, but this job came open, working with a good department, and it just felt like a calling for me.”
The public is invited to a meet-and-greet reception for Jester on Tuesday, October 20, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in room 206 of the Reynolds Center.
Jester retired after a more than 30-year career in highway patrol, where he worked his way up the ranks to captain and troop commander with the Arkansas State Police out of Hope. He also volunteered for the Arkansas statewide SWOT team, where he served for nearly 10 years and worked up to second in charge as assistant commander.
In 1978, Jester was recruited from Garland, Texas, to play for the SAU Mulerider Football team by legendary Coach Rip Powell. He started all four years on the offensive line and was team captain his senior year. He said that year the Muleriders spent time at number one in the nation’s NAIA rankings.
When his eligibility ran out in 1982, he started working as a deputy for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department. He continued his studies while working the midnight shift and earned his degree from SAU in 1984. He received police credentials in 1982 from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. He later graduated 87-B Arkansas State Police Troop School in 1987.
Throughout his esteemed career, his work has been recognized with various honors and awards. He earned the Jaycee Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer award in 1984. In 1994 and in 2002, he received official commendations from the Arkansas State Police. In 2000, he was given two Colonel’s Certificates of Merit and the Service Beyond Excellence Award. He also earned the Troopers Cross in 1999.
As for his plans at the University Police Department which serves SAU and SAU Tech, Jester plans to develop active shooter training geared specifically for the Magnolia and Camden campuses. He said he is going to work closely with the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, local agencies, the Magnolia Police Department and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. He said he also looks forward to working with the officers in the SAU System.
“These are really good people who work hard and ask for little,” he said. “I love this place and hope we can take this department forward and get things accomplished.”
Jester and his wife, Marcia, live in Magnolia and have been married for 35 years. Their son and daughter-in-law, Jeffry and Emily, are the proud parents of his first grandchild, Hays, 4. Jester’s eyes lit up when asked what his grandson calls him – “Captain,” he said with a big smile.
