LOGAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - The city of Logan named its new chief of police on Wednesday.
Gary Jensen replaces Russ Roper, who announced his resignation in August. At the time, Roper said a small group of people at the department had lost respect for him after he made unpopular decisions at the beginning of his appointment.
Jensen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spent his early years of childhood before moving to Afton Wyoming. He spent four years in Afton and his family moved to Farmington, Utah, in his junior year of high school. He attended and graduated from Davis High School. Following high school, Gary served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Hawaiian Islands.
Gary attended Weber State University, where he earned his paramedic certificate and Associate Degree in Emergency Care and Rescue. Gary continued his formal education earning a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice in 1995, followed by a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice in 2005 at Weber State University.
Jensen began his law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff for Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office. He worked for Centerville City Police Department for one year, Farmington City Police department for three and a half years, and spent nearly thirteen and a half years with Davis County Sheriff’s Office in a dual role as a Deputy Sheriff/Paramedic. While working for Davis County, he served six years with the Davis County SWAT and Paramedic Tactical Rescue Unit (PTRU), was a firearms instructor, and completed a three year full-time assignment to the Davis Metro Narcotic Task Force as a detective and assistant supervisor. Gary was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2003 where his supervised a crew of 10 Deputy Sheriff/Paramedics.
Jensen spent nearly 10 years working a part-time job as a Flight Paramedic for the University of Utah Hospital on AirMed. In 2005, Gary was hired and appointed Chief of Police for the Vernal City Police Department. He has been the administrator of the 22 officer department, administrating agency for the Uintah Basin Drug Task Force, and the Vernal area Victim Advocate group.
Jensen is married and is the father of five children.
----Information from: Logan City
