Gentry announces run for sheriff

If elected, Gentry promises to work for the best interests of the community rather than serving individuals or special interest groups.

A 1978 graduate of Berryville High School, Gentry attended Missouri Southern State College Law Enforcement Academy and graduated with honors. Gentry served as chief of police in Exeter and Washburn, Mo., under contract with the Barry County sheriff's office, and was a member of the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force. Narcotics and drug enforcement are among his areas of expertise and a top priority.

In Carroll County he has worked in the sheriff's office as a dispatcher, jailer, reserve deputy and deputy. If elected, Gentry will work to improve pay and bring officers up through the ranks, as he believes good training and salaries minimize problems and save money in the long term through officer retention.

Gentry believes it's important to involve the community in law enforcement. To accomplish that he would assign deputies to specific parts of the county, so they can develop relationships with the people in that area. All patrol cars would be marked as police vehicles and equipped with GPS so the sheriff would always know the location of each car. He wants the public to respect officers and work with them rather than fear them.

In addition to his law enforcement credentials, Gentry also has an extensive business background, having worked in management at Busch Gardens theme park and a large movie theater chain.

Gentry is the son of the late Rex and Helen Gentry. He lives in Eureka Springs with his wife, Penny, and has seven children and eight grandchildren.