Chief Roger B. Ellis has been with the Forsyth Police Department since 2011. Prior
to joining FPD, Chief Ellis worked 12 years for the Taney County Sheriff’s Department,
beginning as a reserve deputy, then first hired as a road deputy in 1999 and promoted
to a Detective in 2004. Prior to this, Chief Ellis was an Alaska State Trooper retiring
after a little over 20 years. While an Alaska State Trooper, he was awarded the
medal of valor, the meritorious service medal; a State Commission’s Trooper of the
Year award and two out-post Trooper of the year awards.
Chief Ellis is a three year proud veteran of the US Army, serving as an Infantry
Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division during the Viet Nam War era and overseas
in Korea for a year. He is a life member of the Forsyth VFW Post and formerly served
as the Post Commander in 2008-2009.
Steve Huggins
Staff Sergeant / SRO / DARE Instructor
Staff Sergeant Steve Huggins is the department’s administrative Sergeant, as well
as the School Resource Officer (SRO) for the Forsyth School District. SSG Huggins
serves the school five days a week during the school year as our representative to
the staff and students of the Forsyth Elementary, Middle and High schools. SSG Huggins
has served in the capacity of SRO for over 22 years.
SSG Huggins joined the FPD in 1991 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to Patrol
Sergeant in 1995 and to Staff Sergeant in 2015. His duties as Staff Sergeant include
supervising overall activiites, scheduling, training coordination, report reviewing
and working directly with the Chief of Police on all projects and operational matters
within the department.
Staff Sergeant Huggins is also actively involved with school sports programs and
community groups. He assisted with Boy Scout Troop 120 in achieving their 1997 National
Crime Prevention Award and was named the 2014-2015 Lake Taneycomo Elks Distinguished
Citizen of the Year.
Billy Murphy
Detective/Patrol Officer
Detective Billy Murphy joined the FPD in 2012 as a police officer. In 2015 he was
promoted to Detective/Sergeant. Det. Murphy began his career in law enforcement in
2011 after serving 11 years in the US Army as a transportation specialist. Detective
Murphy served 25 months in Iraq, earning the Combat Action Badge.
Detective Murphy enjoys his duties as detective, patrol Sergeant, and as the department’s
FTO (field training officer) and appreciates any opportunities to meet with citizens
and visitors and provide any assistance he can offer.
Roger B. Ellis
Mark Shinn
Patrol Officer
Mark came to the Forsyth Police Department after spending 1 ½ years as a deputy with
Christian County Sheriffs Office and 7 years with Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition to his coursework at Drury Law Enforcement Academy, he has completed
supervisory training courses and has patrol supervision experience with Lawrence
County.
David Forrest
Patrol Officer
Officer David Forrest worked for the Stone County Sheriff’s Department for 5 years
including work as a Field Training Officer. He then went to the Taney County Sheriff’s
Department for 3 ½ years, leaving as the Jail Administrator. David came to work
as an Officer at the Forsyth Police Department on 4/10/2018.
