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Michael "Mike" Shepard began his law enforcement career at the Jackson Police Department on April 16, 1975.  Within the first year of his employment, then Officer Shepard attended and completed the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy - Basic Police Recruit School. Upon graduating from TLEA on August 12, 1975, Officer Shepard was assigned to the Patrol Division.

In June 1982, The Jackson Police Department formed a full-time Tactical Unit which consisted of six (6) officers.  Shepard, then a Patrol Officer was one of the original members selected for this unit.  With his ability and experience, Officer Shepard was named the Executive Officer of the unit.  In this capacity, Officer Shepard was instrumental in establishing the structure for the unit, developed a training plan and equipment procurement.  

While assigned to the Tactical Unit, Officer Shepard was promoted to the rank of Corporal on December 17, 1986.  He proved himself to be an exceptional example of what a Tactical Officer should be while participating in over forty (40) tactical operations.  These operations included hostage situations, barricaded subjects, high-risk searches and arrest warrants, and numberous VIP security details including protection of dignitaries visiting the city.  At one point, Cpl. Shepard was under fire while attempting to deliver a chemical agent into a house.

Upon leaving the Tactical Unit, Cpl. Shepard was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on November 9, 1988 and assigned to Crime Stoppers as the Coordinator.  Then on August 9, 1989 Sgt. Shepard was temporarily assigned to the States Attorney General's Office as an Investigator.  

Then in 1992, Sgt. Shepard was assigned to the Patrol Division as a Patrol Sergeant until later in the year when he became the Director of Central Dispatch.  Sgt. Shepard remained the Director until he was reassigned in 1995.

Sgt. Mike Shepard was transferred as the Director over the 26th Judicial Drug Task Force and he was later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on July 12, 1996.  Lt. Shepard remained the Director until he was reassigned in 1997.

Lt. Shepard became a Patrol Lieutenant with a duel role as the Shift Commander and the Public Information Officer from 1997 until March of 1998.  Then Lt. Shepard was reassigned on March 23, 1998 at which time he became the Jail Administrator over Prisoner Intake and Detention Division where he remained until his retirement on October 7, 2004.

During Lt. Mike Shepard's career he was regarded as (for the lack of another term) a "troubleshooter" of sorts in that he was able to take on different aspects of the department that may have been lacking in supervision per say and turn it around into a fully functioning segment of the department.  Thus, why he was reassigned so often.  

Lt. Shepard was highly respected and thought of which attributed to his being elected by his recruit class at the Jackson Police Department to be the President of the thirteen (13) others he hired on with.  He also was the recipient of the Medal of Merit twice, voted as Kiwanis Club Officer of the year twice and he recieved numerous letters of personal commendation.

On October 7, 2004 Lt. Mike Shepard retired.  He went to Iraq and became the Regional Commander over training whereby Iraqi Police from Bagdad and Mosul were trained.  Upon completion of his mission in 2005 Shepard returned home where he remained until 2007 when he became the Chief of Operations a Peja Kosovo for the United Nations.