About the
Knox County Sheriff’s Office
The Knox County
Sheriff’s Office was established in 1792. Currently, the Sheriff’s
Officer has 475 sworn law enforcement personnel, 450 correctional officers and 75 civilian support personnel. The Patrol Division includes the traffic unit, DUI Enforcement, K9 unit, aviation, mounted patrol and park
patrol.
Knox County Sheriff’s
Office Aviation Unit was created in 1996 through a program from the Department of Defense. The program, called The1033 Program,
reutilized military equipment that was still serviceable and was introduced to enhance the Nation’s efforts for counter-drug
and marijuana eradication. The free helicopters and equipment were put to use immediately, initially, for counter-drug operations
only.
Detectives at the Knox
County Sheriff's Office perform a variety of tasks. The Major Crimes Unit is responsible for the investigation and prosecution
of crimes against persons including homicide, rape, robbery, and assault. General Assignment detectives investigate property
crimes such as burglary and vandalism and the Family Violence Unit focuses on helping victims of domestic violence. The Narcotics
Unit is on the front lines in the war on drugs and the Motor Vehicle Theft Unit responds to calls from victims of automobile
thefts.
In early 1980, after
it was learned that a Worlds Fair would be held in Knoxville in 1982, then Sheriff Joe Jenkins authorized the formation of
the departments first SWAT Team. In July 1980, eight officers were named to the SWAT Team. One of the members was former Sheriff,
Tim Hutchison. In addition to being one of the first team members, former sheriff Tim Hutchison was also one of the founders
of the team.
Currently, the
SWAT team now consists of approximately eighteen members. Now, as in 1980, all SWAT Team Officers have primary duties such
as patrol, detectives, training etc. The SWAT Team is extra duty for all members. SWAT Team Members are on call unless they
are out of town. Many times, the SWAT Officers respond to call-outs and come to training on their days off or after working
their regular shift. For Deputy Sheriff’s of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, there is no additional pay
for being a SWAT Team Member.
The SWAT Team is responsible
for dealing with any situation that might require a tactical solution. These situations include barricaded suspects as well
as situations were someone is being held against their will. They also serve high-risk arrest warrants and search warrants.
Source:
knoxsheriff.org