CITIZENS OF PHILLIPS COUNTY, HELP US WELCOME DEPUTY BELINDA GENTRY TO THE PHILLIPS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. GENTRY IS A 2001 GRADUATE OF THE PHILLIPS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS, WHERE SHE RECEIVED A TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL.

AFTER WORKING FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS WITH CHILDREN, GENTRY DECIDED TO FOLLOW HER HEART AND CHILDHOOD DREAM OF BECOMING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. GENTRY WAS HIRED BY PHILLIPS COUNTY SHERIFF, NEAL BYRD, ON DECEMBER 1, 2021, AND WAS WELCOMED BY THE DEPARTMENT. AFTER WORKING FOR ONE MONTH, GENTRY KNEW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS HER CALLING, AND GOD SENT HER TO SERVE. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE GREATER POWER HOUSE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, WHERE SHE SERVED FOR OVER 40 YEARS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LATE BISHOP ALEX SMITH, AND A MEMBER OF THE UPPER ROOM CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ELDER JALEN PHILLIPS. GENTRY IS THE DAUGHTER OF ALBERTA HUNTER, AND WIFE OF CHESTER GENTRY, JR. SHE IS A PROUD MOTHER OF ONE DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW, SHERIE AND WOODROW WILSON, JR., AND GRANDMOTHER OF TWO GRANDCHILDREN, JAKAYLA AND JAKOLBY WILSON. WHEN ASKED WHY SHE WANTED TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, GENTRY SIMPLY STATED, "IT'S IN MY BLOOD."

FIVE MONTHS INTO HER JOURNEY, SHERIFF BYRD SENT GENTRY, WHO IS THE FIRST FEMALE DEPUTY IN HIS DEPARTMENT UNDER HIS WATCH, TO ATTEND THE ARKANSAS LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY (ALETA) IN CAMDEN, AR. GENTRY TRAINED FOR THIRTEEN WEEKS AND EXCELLED BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY. GENTRY GRADUATED FROM THE ARKANSAS LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY ON JULY 29, 2022 (CLASS 2022-B), PROVING TO HERSELF THAT AT THE AGE OF 54, DREAMS STILL COME TRUE. GENTRY HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO THE DEPARTMENT SINCE DAY ONE. SHE HAS CONTINUOUSLY SHOWN HER COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF PHILLIPS COUNTY. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER ON BOARD. WELCOME DEPUTY GENTRY!!!!

Pictured with Gentry above (Sheriff Byrd and Chief Deputy Winston)