Behind The Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 10, 2025) – Over his nearly 32 years with UKPD, University of Kentucky Police Department Chief Joe Monroe has watched the department evolve from a small campus police force into one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Kentucky — serving what he calls a “city within a city.”   Today, his team’s mission extends far beyond patrols and parking enforcement, encompassing everything from crisis management and emergency planning to healthcare security and cutting-edge technology like drones and a network of more than 5,000 cameras across campus. On this episode of "Behind the Blue," Chief Monroe talks about the department’s growth and modernization, the philosophy of safety as a shared community responsibility, and the partnerships and technologies that help protect and prepare the university every day. “Behind the Blue” is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s late