DIVISIONS
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The Patrol Division is the heart of the Law Enforcement Division of the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division is comprised of 8 zones including 50 men and women dedicated to serve the public and preserve the peace for all who reside in or visit Sevier County. The Patrol Division is divided into four shifts with additional units assigned to the Traffic Unit. Within the pages of this website are descriptions of the various Sections and Units that make up the Patrol Division. Each is designed to meet the needs of the community we serve in the most efficient and economical method possible.
Our goal is to prevent crime by deterring crime and arresting violators so they are unable to reoffend.
These efforts are directly in line with, and originate from the Community Oriented Policing (C.O.P.) philosophy. C.O.P is not a special program or unit, but a universal philosophy, which brings our community together. It is a proactive problem solving approach to law enforcement intended to increase the quality of life for citizens in the community by reducing crime. C.O.P. is accomplished by providing community based law enforcement services through the application of proactive and preventive enforcement strategies derived from partnerships within the community. It promotes the building of trusting relationships between the law enforcement officers and the community they serve. This helps to solve the problems that cause crime by working with agencies, organizations, businesses, and the citizens within the community to identify problems which may not be readily apparent to the law enforcement officer.
Our goal is to prevent crime by deterring crime and arresting violators so they are unable to reoffend.
These efforts are directly in line with, and originate from the Community Oriented Policing (C.O.P.) philosophy. C.O.P is not a special program or unit, but a universal philosophy, which brings our community together. It is a proactive problem solving approach to law enforcement intended to increase the quality of life for citizens in the community by reducing crime. C.O.P. is accomplished by providing community based law enforcement services through the application of proactive and preventive enforcement strategies derived from partnerships within the community. It promotes the building of trusting relationships between the law enforcement officers and the community they serve. This helps to solve the problems that cause crime by working with agencies, organizations, businesses, and the citizens within the community to identify problems which may not be readily apparent to the law enforcement officer.
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office K-9 Division is headed by Cpl. A. Biggs The K-9 Division works to provide the Citizens of Sevier County with trained Service K-9s to help locate lost or missing persons, illegal narcotics, detect explosive devices, and apprehend fleeing wanted/felons. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit is currently comprised of six (6) dual purpose narcotic detection, tracking, and a single purpose explosive ordinance detection K-9. The K-9 Unit conducts timely, rigorous training and thus stands prepared for most task(s) and assignments. Each K-9 is certified through IPWDA. The International Police Work Dog Association, which is a National Accreditation Program established to designate a working standard for all K-9s, their handlers, and their trainers. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division also conducts routine demonstrations for churches, schools and other civic groups or organizations.
The traffic unit's primary responsibility is to insure the safety of the motoring public within Sevier County. The traffic unit is responsible for the enforcement of all applicable traffic laws and ordinances of both the State of Tennessee and Sevier County. In addition traffic unit officers are responsible for working the vast majority of traffic crashes within Sevier County.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is responsible for many traffic related law enforcement functions including dignitary and funeral escorts, focused radar, and intensified traffic enforcement. The Traffic Unit also participates in community parades and special events.
The traffic officer investigates all traffic complaints made to the sheriff's office, works all traffic related details, and other major events with traffic being an area of concern. During his/her shift traffic unit officers also respond to assist patrol officers who may be assigned to a call that requires the assistance of additional officers.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is responsible for many traffic related law enforcement functions including dignitary and funeral escorts, focused radar, and intensified traffic enforcement. The Traffic Unit also participates in community parades and special events.
The traffic officer investigates all traffic complaints made to the sheriff's office, works all traffic related details, and other major events with traffic being an area of concern. During his/her shift traffic unit officers also respond to assist patrol officers who may be assigned to a call that requires the assistance of additional officers.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Domestic & Family Violence Unit was created in June, 2015. Sheriff Seals saw a need for a Domestic Violence Officer designed to reach out to victims of family violence. The DMVO has been able to offer support and guidance through the criminal prosecution process. Due to the nature of the crimes, the DMVO reviews all Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Reports and conducts appropriate follow-up investigations, either on scene or as support.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office utilizes a Major Crime(s) Scene Unit that is operated by seasoned Investigators trained by the University of Tennessee’s National Forensic Academy. The Investigators that make-up the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division are cross-trained with multiple responsibilities. The Detectives are called on as a team to respond to major crime scenes to interpret, collect, document, and store evidence. This team provides the lead Investigator with a starting point to piece together the physical evidence found at the crime scene. The unit is committed to the thorough and timely investigation of all criminal offenses assigned to them and work together to help solve crimes ranging from vandalism, theft, burglary, robbery, to sexual assaults, to crimes against children, to sex offender registry violations, to fire investigations, to homicides. They work diligently, and as a unit, regularly produce high case resolution and clearance rates.
The Video Forensics Unit was created to better serve the growing needs of video evidence for our community and our judicial system. The overall objective of this division is to obtain and analyze as much of the information as possible for the identification and clarification of suspects, offenders, and the actual events that did occur in the attempt to remove all doubt and revealing the truth.
Video surveillance systems record the pure events that did occur without any partiality, discrimination of race, gender, or national origin. The Video Forensics Unit provides analysis of the video, audio, and still photographs, conducting preliminary and advance preparation of evidence improving the decisions to be made, the chances of prosecution, or of the innocence(s) necessary for the case(s) involved. Video Forensics offers the opportunity for each case to be presented in an unbiased way allowing the evidence to speak for itself.
Video surveillance systems record the pure events that did occur without any partiality, discrimination of race, gender, or national origin. The Video Forensics Unit provides analysis of the video, audio, and still photographs, conducting preliminary and advance preparation of evidence improving the decisions to be made, the chances of prosecution, or of the innocence(s) necessary for the case(s) involved. Video Forensics offers the opportunity for each case to be presented in an unbiased way allowing the evidence to speak for itself.
The Street Crimes Unit was created to detect and address persons involved in crime, especially those related to substance abuse, illegal weapons possession, and tracking of dangerous wanted felons. The Street Crimes Unit is designed to disrupt street level criminal activity so as to provide a more safe and secure environment for the Citizens of Sevier County. Within the Street Crimes Unit, Investigators comprise a Meth Lab Response Team and partner with the United States Marshall Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force.
The Training Division at the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for ensuring deputies are instructed and proficient on the most recent legal issues and law enforcement tactics. Deputies receive continual training on issues such as constitutional law, domestic violence updates, firearms training, community relations and responding to high risk calls.
We are continuously striving to develop and implement the highest quality training in the industry. We are committed to networking and doing our research to stay on the leading edge of issues and trends that are relevant to law enforcement, corrections, and general public service. We believe that quality training saves lives and has a direct (positive) impact on the quality of service that we provide to our community.
Our trainers and support staff are dedicated, well-trained, and highly motivated. Please feel free to contact us at (865) 453-4668 for any questions and/or concerns that you may have regarding the training or services that we provide.
We are continuously striving to develop and implement the highest quality training in the industry. We are committed to networking and doing our research to stay on the leading edge of issues and trends that are relevant to law enforcement, corrections, and general public service. We believe that quality training saves lives and has a direct (positive) impact on the quality of service that we provide to our community.
Our trainers and support staff are dedicated, well-trained, and highly motivated. Please feel free to contact us at (865) 453-4668 for any questions and/or concerns that you may have regarding the training or services that we provide.
The Explosives Unit is a team of highly motivated officers who are specially trained in the recognition, construction, handling and rendering-safe of improvised explosives and devices. Bomb Technicians receive their initial certification by completing the FBI/US Army Hazardous Devices School which is located at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The Sheriff’s Office Explosives Unit works as a regional response unit. The Regional Explosives Unit has a response area which includes a majority of East Tennessee. The Explosives Unit not only responds to calls of explosive devices, military ordnance, suspicious packages, and post blast investigations but also provides training for emergency responders. The Unit supports the mission of the Hazardous Materials Team, the S.O.R.T. Team, the U.S. Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, as well as any other agency in the region needing technical support. In addition to a more traditional response, Technicians are now also focusing on rapid deployment and integration with tactical units. Imagine the mission and duties of a Bomb Technician at the speed of a S.O.R.T. Team, all in order to handle rapidly evolving situations and keep people safe.
The mission and level of training for Bomb Technicians has significantly increased with incidents like the 2010 Times Square attempted bombing, the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and the 2010 Discovery Channel hostage incident. The members of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Unit have dedicated themselves to meeting these challenges and pride themselves on being prepared to handle any threat explosives pose to our community.
The mission and level of training for Bomb Technicians has significantly increased with incidents like the 2010 Times Square attempted bombing, the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and the 2010 Discovery Channel hostage incident. The members of the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Unit have dedicated themselves to meeting these challenges and pride themselves on being prepared to handle any threat explosives pose to our community.
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office Special Operations Response Team (S.O.R.T.) Team consists of highly motivated, specially trained officers that excel at performing very specialized missions under extremely stressful circumstances, sometimes with very little advance notice. Each team member possesses a variety of skills and experience. When brought together, these members function as a single unit within a team concept, which allows missions to be completed thoroughly and safely.
The S.O.R.T. Team’s primary objective is to ensure the safety of all persons involved in any mission in which the S.O.R.T. Team is deployed. Concern for the public’s safety, as well as the team's safety, cannot be stressed enough as the S.O.R.T. Team executes its missions.
The S.O.R.T. Team’s primary objective is to ensure the safety of all persons involved in any mission in which the S.O.R.T. Team is deployed. Concern for the public’s safety, as well as the team's safety, cannot be stressed enough as the S.O.R.T. Team executes its missions.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office maintains an energetic partnership with the Sevier County School System. One component of the Patrol Division is the School Resource Officers. The SRO Division was established in order to provide a safe school environment. This is accomplished through team building and mutual relationships with school administrators and positive interaction with students both in the classroom and general areas of the school grounds.
The Sheriff’s Office School Resource Unit has 16 officers who serve as positive role models to students in middle schools and high schools across Sevier County. These officers are permanently assigned to these schools to patrol the campuses and investigate crimes that occur on campus.
The Sheriff’s Office School Resource Unit has 16 officers who serve as positive role models to students in middle schools and high schools across Sevier County. These officers are permanently assigned to these schools to patrol the campuses and investigate crimes that occur on campus.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Court Services Division provides POST Certified Officers throughout the Sevier County Courthouse. They screen the public as they enter the Courtroom(s). There is a Bailiff present to work with each presiding Judge. They are responsible for opening the court and managing the court room. They work closely with the Court Clerks to insure the safety and security of Victims, Witnesses, Jurors, Court Clerks, their staff and all general visitor population.
Sevier County Sheriff's Deputies work diligently to secure the Sevier County Courthouse. Making sure the building is safe is the first priority but, when needed the deputies also work court security for Sessions, Circuit and District Judges.
Deputies assigned to the Courthouse are trained on the use of metal detectors and personal security.
Sevier County Sheriff's Deputies work diligently to secure the Sevier County Courthouse. Making sure the building is safe is the first priority but, when needed the deputies also work court security for Sessions, Circuit and District Judges.
Deputies assigned to the Courthouse are trained on the use of metal detectors and personal security.
Sevier County Sheriff’s Office GIS Division (Geographical Information System) manages data used for producing law enforcement maps, visualized information, navigation, and location analytics to empower frontline officers and administration with better decision making. The GIS Division gives Sevier County Sheriff’s Office the ability to improve planning, reduce costs, and increase transparency. The Sheriff’s GIS uses logistical data collection tools for solving problems and protecting citizens. The Sheriff’s GIS is able to give our entire agency the ability to improve planning, operational awareness, support of search and rescue, law enforcement activities, and field mobility.
Sevier County Sheriff’s GIS Mapping and GIS Applications enhance response times, coordinate enforcement activities, and achieve a better understanding of our jurisdiction. Additional workflows may include creating GIS Applications for social issues including hazardous areas, high crime areas, creating specialized data sets, reports, map graphics, and other requested materials utilizing GIS data sets or data resources, etc. With Winsoms Law Enforcement data collection and map research development as the foundation, Sheriff’s GIS is positively impacting our community each day to understand current crime conditions, improve responses, and maximize officer and public safety.
Sevier County Sheriff’s GIS Mapping and GIS Applications enhance response times, coordinate enforcement activities, and achieve a better understanding of our jurisdiction. Additional workflows may include creating GIS Applications for social issues including hazardous areas, high crime areas, creating specialized data sets, reports, map graphics, and other requested materials utilizing GIS data sets or data resources, etc. With Winsoms Law Enforcement data collection and map research development as the foundation, Sheriff’s GIS is positively impacting our community each day to understand current crime conditions, improve responses, and maximize officer and public safety.
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office Dive Team is comprised of four deputies. The team is responsible for water related incidents within Sevier County such as drowning, near drowning, evidence and stolen property recoveries. The divers are trained to dive in poor conditions such as zero visibility, under the ice, in river currents, and night dives.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division works to maintain public health and safety for both people and animals. The Animal Control Division respond to calls or complaints from Sevier County residents about stray animals, suspected animal cruelty or mistreatment and the potential rescue or capture of dependent animals. They are certified through the National Animal Care & Control Association.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Chaplain Corp was designed to provide spiritual, religious, moral, and personal support needs for Sheriff’s Deputies, Civilian Employees, Command Staff and their Families. Chaplains serve people of all faiths and respect their views, as well as those who express no faith at all. The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains are On-Call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to provide spiritual and practical guidance without regard to the recipient’s religious beliefs, faith, practices or preferences.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division manages an enormous amount of public complaints and patrol dispatch/radio transmissions 24 hours a day 7 days per week. When the Citizens of Sevier County call for service they generate a complaint card which requires an action or a response. Those calls are then dispatched to a uniformed patrol officer for investigation.
The Civil section of the Sevier Sheriff's Office is responsible for serving all civil process papers issued from the Attorney Generals Office, County and District offices, Private law firms in and out the County and State, requesting service. This includes the serving of Subpoenas, Summons, Writ of Attachments, Sequestrations, Order of Sales, Writ of Possessions, Forcible Detainers, Protective Orders, Injunctions, and other service of process.
The Warrants section of the Sevier County Sheriff's Office is responsible for all Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants issued in Sevier County that are filed with the Sheriff's Office. This includes not only the service of warrants, but the logging, maintaining, recalling, and updating of both Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants.
The Warrants section of the Sevier County Sheriff's Office is responsible for all Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants issued in Sevier County that are filed with the Sheriff's Office. This includes not only the service of warrants, but the logging, maintaining, recalling, and updating of both Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants.
There is no cost for the Sevier County Sheriff's Office Reserve Deputy Sheriff Training Program. Applicants who successfully complete the selection process will be provided all equipment and training at no charge.
Applicants must meet all the same requirements as full-time officers. This includes intensive background investigation and psychological examination. Once accepted into the training program, Reserve Deputy Sheriff Training will require approximately two to three months of classes to meet the state-required 80 hours. This training will be held on weekday evenings and some weekends.
After completing the training course and passing the Reserve Deputy test, applicants will become Reserve Deputy Sheriffs with the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Reserve Deputies are required to perform a minimum of 16 hours of service per month to maintain their certification and to attend in-service training on a monthly basis.
This program is again an excellent way for citizens to give back to the community and receive valuable training should they desire to enter the world of law enforcement. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to providing the highest quality of law enforcement service to our citizens. With this program, our citizens can share with us our pride in this dedication.
Applicants interested in the Reserve Deputy Sheriff Program should contact the Office of Community Relations @ 865-774-3958 or email: pdavis@seviercountytn.gov
Applicants must meet all the same requirements as full-time officers. This includes intensive background investigation and psychological examination. Once accepted into the training program, Reserve Deputy Sheriff Training will require approximately two to three months of classes to meet the state-required 80 hours. This training will be held on weekday evenings and some weekends.
After completing the training course and passing the Reserve Deputy test, applicants will become Reserve Deputy Sheriffs with the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Reserve Deputies are required to perform a minimum of 16 hours of service per month to maintain their certification and to attend in-service training on a monthly basis.
This program is again an excellent way for citizens to give back to the community and receive valuable training should they desire to enter the world of law enforcement. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to providing the highest quality of law enforcement service to our citizens. With this program, our citizens can share with us our pride in this dedication.
Applicants interested in the Reserve Deputy Sheriff Program should contact the Office of Community Relations @ 865-774-3958 or email: pdavis@seviercountytn.gov
The Sevier County Sheriff's Office Litter Patrol Unit is equipped with 4 trucks and also work with the City of Sevierville.The general purpose is litter and debris pickup for Sevier County and we also sometimes dispose of dead animals at the request of the sheriff's Office. The people who participates are sent from Sessions Court and also Circuit Court System.
In 2016 the Litter Patrol Unit removed around 354,760 pounds of trash and debris and covered 1676.7 miles of County roads and 562.6 miles of State roads and completed 27,056 hours of service. We also built a 911 back up dispatch center and constructed a communication tower site on Ski mountain and Bluff mountain with labor from the program.
The Litter Patrol Unit also cleaned up several abandoned cemeteries in the Kodak and Wears Valley Communities that contained Veterans graves also assisted in the annual food commodities give out at the Sevier County Fair Grounds.
In 2016 the Litter Patrol Unit removed around 354,760 pounds of trash and debris and covered 1676.7 miles of County roads and 562.6 miles of State roads and completed 27,056 hours of service. We also built a 911 back up dispatch center and constructed a communication tower site on Ski mountain and Bluff mountain with labor from the program.
The Litter Patrol Unit also cleaned up several abandoned cemeteries in the Kodak and Wears Valley Communities that contained Veterans graves also assisted in the annual food commodities give out at the Sevier County Fair Grounds.