Memphis native Joe Gurley, II is a Bartlett High School graduate. After serving in the United States Air Force as a security police officer, in 1988, Joe returned to Memphis and joined the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office as one of the first 9-1-1 operators in Shelby County. The following year, Joe joined the University of Tennessee Campus Police and received his POST certification. In 1990, Joe rejoined the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and was instrumental in implementation of a program targeting youth alcohol and drug abuse. Joe was awarded the Lifesaving Medal by the Sheriff’s Department in 2004, and retired in 2015. Joe has also served as a chief executive in two private security companies which did extensive work in high-crime apartment communities. Joe has worked at SafeWays since 2017 has a Compliance Manager, in 2023 became Director of Operations.

Additionally, Joe has earned the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Professional Designation from the National Institute of Crime Prevention.