McCutchen Named Chief of the Oxford Police Department

*Story updated to include quote from Chief McCutchen*

By Alyssa Schnugg
News editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Oxford’s Interim Police Chief Jeff McCutchen will have to order new business cards come January.

Maj. Jeff McCutchen will be named Chief of Police in January. He has served as Interim Chief of Police for 10 months.
Photo provided by OPD

The word “interim” will be replaced with words “Chief of Police,” according to Oxford’s Mayor Robyn Tannehill and the Board of Aldermen who announced Tuesday that McCutchen will be named Chief of Police when current Chief Joey East is sworn in as sheriff in January.

“Interim Chief McCutchen has basically had a 10-month job interview,” Tannehill said Tuesday in a press release. “I am speaking for the Board when I say that we could not be more proud of how (McCutchen) has led the department and represented our community through some extremely tough situations. We have complete confidence in his ability to lead the Oxford Police Department into the future and continue to serve our community with wisdom and compassion.”

McCutchen has served the police department as Operations Major since 2014 overseeing Patrol, investigations and special event details. Prior to that, he held various positions including supervisor over investigations, patrol officer, DUI officer and SWAT Commander for a combined 17 years of service in law enforcement.

“I am truly honored to serve the citizens of Oxford and the staff at OPD,” McCutchen said Tuesday evening. “The support we have received from our community this year has been overwhelming. I’m grateful to Mayor Tannehill and the Board of Alderman for trusting me to serve as their Chief and I cannot thank Sheriff Joey East enough for his wisdom and mentoring throughout my career. We look forward to continuing to build bridges in our community and serving our citizens with wisdom and compassion.”

He is a graduate of the 257th class of the FBI National Academy and a 2018 graduate of the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Lafayette Program, receiving the peer-nominated Leadership Award.

McCutchen was named interim chief when East announced he was running for sheriff and was granted a leave of absence by the Board of Aldermen earlier this year. East won the election on Nov. 5 and will be sworn in at the start of the new year. McCutchen will then continue leading OPD as chief.

“Chief Joey East’s service to the Oxford Police Department and to our community over the past 24 years has been incredible,” Tannehill said. “Chief East has led by example and leaves the department better than he found it. Chief East’s focus on community policing, establishing a downtown district unit, incorporating a mounted patrol unit and most recently securing CALEA certification for the Oxford Police Department has set the department on a path for success and service. We are forever indebted to Chief East for his service to all of us.

“As a Board, we are so proud of Joey for not only following his heart but also his Dad’s footsteps. We know he will continue to lead and serve our community well in his new role as Sheriff.”

The public is invited to a celebration being held from 2 to 4 p.m at the Oxford Conference Center to honor East and show appreciation for his service to the Oxford community.