A Mississippi State University news release on Dec. 20 reported campus police chief Georgia Lindley was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an investigation into charges against her in the city of Starkville.  Lindley was placed on administrative leave effective Dec. 21 after a DUI arrest by the Starkville Police Department.
SPD Captain Frank Nichols said Lindley was driving on Louisville Street when she was stopped by an officer and registered positive for alcohol. Lindley was transported to the police station where she was booked and posted bail. Lindley’s resignation came into effect Dec. 31. 
Lindley had a blood alcohol level of 0.13 when she was arrested on the DUI charge in Starkville just after 5 p.m. according to a police report obtained by the Associated Press through a public records request. The legal limit for driving in Mississippi is 0.08.
According to a 2006 report on MSU’s website, Lindley was the assistant chief of MSU police since 2000 and has been the police chief since 2005.
Bill Kibler, vice president for Student Affairs, said in a news release on Dec. 20 MSU’s primary focus is on maintaining a culture of safety, security and proactive community policing for its students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.
“We have great confidence in the men and women who comprise our MSU Police Department,” Kibler said.
Interim Chief Kenneth Spencer, who has been the assistant chief since 2006 and a member of the department since 1992, is leading the MSU Police Department currently. 
Spencer said his immediate responsibilities include ensuring the safety and security of the entire university population. 
“Our main goal is to protect and serve, be very customer-service oriented and do the things that the police department needs to do to help the university promote its goal overall,” Spencer said. 
He said he does not believe the MSU police force has been de-moralized by the DUI arrest of its former Police chief.
“We have a very professional staff, probably one of the leading law enforcement agencies I believe within the state, and our officers know when we come in we have a job to do. We have a duty to perform, and we hold that above any other things that we do, and so I don’t think that would have an effect on the officers morale because we know our task,” he said.