Deputy Chief Barry Michael has been employed with the Jackson Police Department for over 37 years. In July 2010, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police over Administration, consisting of budgeting, building, fleet management, and technologies; and the Special Operations Group, consisting of the Aviation Unit, the Bomb Unit, the Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Unit, the K-9 Unit and The SWAT Team.
Chief Michael began his career in 1983 as a Patrol Officer assigned to Patrol Division. He has since served in various other roles within the Department, including positions as a Criminal Investigator in the Juvenile Division and the Violent Crimes Unit, Patrol Sergeant and Narcotics Unit Sergeant. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1999 and served as the Metro Narcotics Unit Commander until his promotion to Captain of the newly formed Special Operations Division in May 2008. This new position required combining the crime fighting efforts of the Metro Narcotics Unit, Gang Unit, Tactical Unit, Street Crimes Unit and Aviation Unit as part of the Safe Neighborhoods Task Force Initiative created that year by Mayor Jerry Gist. As a result of these newly combined efforts, the unit saw the number of drug and gun arrests rise from 480 to almost 1,100 in 2009. Chief Michael is also an experienced Hostage/Crisis Negotiator, having served on the Team for 15 years and was the team leader from 2003 until 2008.
Chief Michael was a charter Executive Board Member of the Tennessee Alliance for Drug Endangered Children since 2004 and serves on the Legislative Committee, Homeland Security Committee, Technology Committee, and Internet Crimes against Children Committee for the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. He also served for 7 years as the West Tennessee Regional Director for the Tennessee Meth Task Force.
Chief Michael is a lifelong resident of Jackson, is married and has 4 boys. His oldest son has joined the ranks of the Jackson Police Department. He graduated in 1979 from Jackson Central Merry High School and was a Summa Cum Laude Graduate of Bethel University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. In May 2013, he received his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Bethel University. He is also a 2014 graduate of Leadership Jackson and is a member of the Jackson Exchange Club.
In addition to his duties at the Jackson Police Department, Chief Michael is a part-time Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice for Bethel University, the University of Memphis at Lambuth, and the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Deputy Chief Michael can be reached at 731-425-8182 or by email at [email protected]