Denny was born and raised in Williamsport, Pa. He graduated from Williamsport High School in 1962. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for a four year tour of duty. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant from the Marines in late 1966 and immediately made application to the Pennsylvania State Police. He started his Law Enforcement career in July 1967 when he was accepted and enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police. Upon graduation from the State Police Academy he was assigned to the Hollidaysburg Station where he served until April 1968 at which time he transferred to the Rockview State Police Station. He served at the Rockview station for nearly 23 years until his honorable discharge in 1991. During his service with the State Police, Denny served as a traffic patrol officer, undercover vice/narcotics officer, criminal investigator, arson investigator, and fitness coordinator.
In 1991 Denny was elected Sheriff of Centre County and subsequently re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
As your Sheriff, Denny has worked in concert with Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement agencies to enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to our Communities. He has initiated various partnerships with these agencies as well as our senior community and community leaders to improve the quality of life in Centre County.
Denny has also been a very active member of both the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association. In 1997 he hosted the Pennsylvania Sheriffs for their 75th Annual Conference here in Centre County. In June of 2003 at the Associations Annual Conference in Erie Pa., Denny was elected President of the Sheriffs’ Association. In addition Denny has served on the Executive Board of the Sheriffs’ Associating for seven years. Denny also serves on the following committees of the National Sheriffs’ Association: Court Security/Inmate Transport, Drug Enforcement, Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Training Advisory Committee.
Denny resides in Milesburg with his wife Sally. He has two adult children, Gregory and Natalie and granddaughters Josselyn and Jayla all residing in Bellefonte.