PRINCESS ANNE — Carlos Kelly, a law enforcement officer with 27 years of experience in policing and public safety, is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s new chief of the campus police department.

Kelly, a Philadelphia native, previously served as Grambling (La.) State University police chief. He has extensive knowledge of modern police practices and methods concerning investigation, patrol, crime prevention and service delivery standards.

During his two years at Grambling, Kelley implemented policies and strategies that reduced domestic violence cases through preventative programming as well as improved service delivery. 

His experience includes serving as an investigator, a district commander, an emergency manager and a community relations specialist.

Prior to Grambling, the father of three was a lieutenant commander for the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. He also worked for the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s police department.

Kelly takes over the leadership position from Mark Tyler, who remains on the force after serving as interim chief since 2016 when he replaced Ernest Leatherbury Jr. who resigned to take a job with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Princess Anne Police Chief Robert Wink said he met and got to speak to the new chief last month, and looks forward to a good working relationship with him as “we are both right here in town together and have to lean on each other a little bit.”