As a child growing up in a military family, honor and duty was instilled in Kenny Mayberry’s life. Now Kenny carries those virtues into his job as a lieutenant with the University Police at Southeast.
Kenny has met many obstacles throughout his life, but his strong work ethic and the help of others have led him to become the man he is today. A congenital birth defect caused him to be born without a right hand, but Kenny wears prosthesis and works hard to overcome any limitations others put on him. Kenny said growing up with two older brothers toughened him up.
“They never let me sit on the sidelines,” Kenny said.
After graduating from high school, he transitioned into college life, but when Kenny was just 19, his father died, and he decided he had to work fulltime as a communicator for the Butler County Sheriff’s Department. Kenny later was promoted to patrol deputy sheriff and eventually returned to school while continuing his duties as deputy sheriff.
With his focus in criminal justice and social rehabilitation, Kenny received his associate’s degree from Three Rivers Community College in 1989 and his bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1992. He is also a graduate of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Academy. In 1990, Kenny accepted his position as patrolman with the University Police and worked his way up to his current position as lieutenant.
“Sheriff Kenneth Link and the Director of Public Safety Doug Richards took a chance on me and let me prove myself,” Kenny said. “These two men gave me the chance to adapt and overcome any preconceived notions the general public had of me.”
Kenny chose a career in the police force because he always wanted to help those who could not help themselves, he said. His job, along with being a member of the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad, allows him to do just that, and it offers diversity each day. He says no two days are alike.
“I could be looking over officer reports, checking policy and procedures, testifying in court or chasing a bank robber through ditches. That’s what is great about my careerᾰit’s different every day,” Kenny said.
Kenny--who is a certified FBI firearms instructor, an FBI trained hostage negotiator and a Glock pistol Armorerᾰalong with Sgt. Creighton Gould, recently received the responsibility of instructing an active shooter/violent intruder defense program called A.L.I.C.E (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) for University students and staff. He has also been selected to present ideas on this instruction at a national conference the past two years.
While Kenny loves his job, he says nothing is more important to him than his family and his faith. He attends Cape Bible Chapel with his wife and two sons, ages three and seven.
“They are my life,” he said.
Kenny also enjoys listening to music by Chickenfoot, Sammy Hagar and Montrose, or anything with good guitar sound.
Kenny offers Southeast students advice a police officer would definitely understand.
“Remember what you do today will be with you tomorrowᾰthe good and the bad,” he shares.