Meet Casey McElhenney: Leading the way for safe college campus
With half a year on the job under his belt as Meridian Community College’s Chief of Campus Police Casey McElhenney continues to make strides to ensure safety and security to the College.
“I’ve always wanted to take the opportunity to take what I’ve learned and use it to better a department. Meridian Community College is a great place; I want to do my part in making the campus safe as it can be for faculty, staff, and students,” McElhenney said.
Since 1994, McElhenney has worked in the law enforcement arena in positions ranging from dispatcher to school resource officer, to senior patrolman to chief investigator. He also been a special agent for the railroad, logging in time in New Orleans, Memphis, and Atlanta, and served with the Lauderdale County assistant district attorney in the courtroom. McElhenney graduated from the FBI National Academy, competed the state’s certified investigator program and went to the Mississippi Command College.
“I’ve had a lot of good training over the years in law enforcement,” McElhenney said, crediting a former employer, Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie. “He was an excellent leader; he led a good department … so I had a good department to learn from.”
The experience he’s gained plays a role in the goals he has for the MCC Campus Police Department. “I want to structure the department in a way that we can provide more services and keep the campus safer,” he said, adding he hopes to begin work on a state accreditation for the department, too.
A graduate of the Mississippi Police Academy, McElhenney has also earned his associate of arts and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in political science and psychology. It was an instructor who directed him to another career field, teaching. McElhenney also received a master’s degree in political science with community college education as an emphasis.
He said, “I love helping people and meeting people,” McElhenney said adding that working in the public is a driving force for him. “I’ve been very privilege in my career,” he said.
McElhenney, who describes himself as a homebody (“I love to work, and I love being home with my family,” he said), has been married 23 years to his wife Missy, an MCC alumna, who is a local nurse practitioner. They have two sons, Caleb, 16, and Will, 22, and live in the Martin community. The family is deeply involved in their church, First Baptist of Collinsville; McElhenney and his wife teach third grade Sunday School and, McElhenney also works security at his church.
As for his MCC family, McElhenney said he’s thankful to be working at the College with students, faculty, and staff. “I’m excited about what the future will bring. I know where I’m supposed to be and I’m enjoying that. It’s a good feeling.”
Visit meridiancc.edu/campuspolice to learn more.