Lawrence Mayor Names Next Police Chief

Mayor Collier has appointed Gary Woodruff to continue serving as the next Chief of Police. Woodruff had previously served as the Interim Police Chief. 

Woodruff follows previous Chief David Hofmann, who announced his retirement January 24th.

Chief Woodruff represents the first “in-house” Lawrence Police Chief appointment since 2006. Chief’s since then had all come from outside of the department. 

“It’s an honor and privilege to be appointed as the next Lawrence Chief of Police,” Woodruff said. “I look forward to building on the progress of the previous 6 years, while sustaining our continuity and forward movement.” 

Lawrence Mayor Steve Collier commented,  “It gives me a great sense of pride to appoint Gary Woodruff as our Chief of Police.  Chief Woodruff has a long and successful record with LPD and has the support of our officers.  Gary’s professional relationship with all of our local media will insure continued transparency with all of our stakeholders.  We have a lot of talent and professionalism in the Lawrence Police Department and my selection of Gary Woodruff as my Police Chief only serves to validate that statement.”

Chief Woodruff is a second-generation public servant, his father Harold Woodruff was two-term Police Chief, and two-term Mayor, in Frankfort.

Woodruff, who grew up on the east side of Indianapolis, attending IPS School #51, and graduating from Arlington High School, started his law enforcement career upon enlisting in the US Army Military Police in 1983, where after completing Basic Training & Military Police School graduation, he served in Europe, then right here at Fort Benjamin Harrison with the Army Criminal Investigations Division.

Woodruff joined the Frankfort Police Department in 1986, where he served until 2000, attaining the rank of Detective Captain. Woodruff transferred to the Lawrence Police Department in 2000, where he has primarily served as a Detective in the Investigations Division. Woodruff was previously appointed as Deputy Police Chief, Investigations Division Commander, and is the department Public Information Officer. He is also regularly invited as a Guest Instructor at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. 

In addition to his law enforcement career, Woodruff’s outside interests include travel, being an avid reader, and sports enthusiast, particularly IndyCar racing. He also volunteers on the Benjamin Harrison YMCA Advisory Board, and the Folds of Honor Indiana Board of Directors.