About Penn Security Services

Gary Penn, Owner

leadership

Gary E. Penn is a retired Lieutenant from Campbell County Sheriff's Office and community leader from Altavista, Virginia with a distinguished career serving in multiple local departments. He began his law-enforcement journey in 1997 with the Danville Police Department, later serving with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office where he worked closely with federal agencies on gun and drug cases early in his career.

Penn joined the Altavista Police Department in 2010, where he worked on a joint task force with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, rising through the ranks to First Sergeant. During his time with the APD, he helped develop community-focused programs such as Altavista’s National Night Out and the Shop with a Cop initiative—efforts aimed at building strong community partnerships.

In 2018, Gary transitioned to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a School Resource Officer and later as Sergeant of Community Relations and Crime Prevention, roles in which he focused on student safety and outreach.

After retiring from the sheriff’s office on September 30, 2024, Penn continued his public service locally. He has been active in civic organizations (including the YMCA Altavista board, the Virginia Moose Association, and Habitat for Humanity), and has been recognized for his dedication, including awards like Deputy of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

Following his retirement, he was also elected to the Altavista Town Council in November 2024, beginning a new chapter of community leadership.