(KAIR)--Strong achievement is being recognized for a former Atchison area law enforcement officer now appointed as Chief Deputy of the fourth largest Sheriff's Office in the nation.

Jeff Gentry becomes Chief Deputy of the Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff's Office which, a release says, "spans over 9,200 square miles, making it larger than seven U.S. states."

Gentry, whose career spans nearly three decades, including extensive service in the Atchison area, brings, what the release calls 'a wealth of experience and leadership to one of the largest and most diverse sheriff's offices in the United States."

Gentry, who calls it "an honor to serve the residents of Maricopa County,” adds, in the release, that his "time in the Atchison area helped shape my approach to community-focused policing, and I look forward to applying those values, along with my experiences in both public and private sectors, as Chief Deputy.”

According to the release, "Gentry previously served the Maricopa County Sheriff- Office as the Commander of the Maricopa County Drug Suppression Task Force, where he led efforts to combat drug-related crimes and dismantle narcotics operations throughout the county. For the past six years, Gentry served as a Global Workplace Threat Manager for Amazon, crafting the strategic implementation of the workplace violence prevention program for one of the world- largest companies."

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan praised Gentry's track record in the release, saying "Gentry's leadership, experience, and expertise in threat management make him an exceptional choice for Chief Deputy," adding that the new Chief Deputy's :dedication to service aligns perfectly with [the office's] mission to protect and serve the people of Maricopa County.”