Sullivan County Sheriff's Office (Tennessee)

Sullivan County Sheriffs Office
Jurisdictional structure
Legal jurisdiction	Sullivan County Tennessee
Operational structure
Headquarters	Blountville, Tennessee
Agency executives	Jeff Cassidy, Sheriff Tracey Kittrell, Chief Deputy Greg Simcox, Assistant Chief Lee Carswell, Assistant Jail Chief
Divisions	14 Administration Patrol Criminal Investigations Communications Records & Warrants F.I.R.S.T K-9 S.W.A.T School Resource Officers Process Courts Transportation Corrections Reserves
Facilities
Stations	1
Website
Sullivan County Sheriff Office

The Sullivan County Sheriffs Office, sometimes referred to as "SCSO", is the primary law enforcement organization serving Sullivan County, Tennessee, in the United States. The Department has a staff of 260 deputies, corrections officers, and support personnel. The department also staffs a 24-7 9-1-1 dispatch center that provides dispatching for the sheriff's office, Bluff City Police Department, Sullivan County Fire Departments, and Sullivan County EMS. The dispatch center receives approximately 100,000 calls each year.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2018, Sheriff Wayne Anderson apologized after sending text messages to a corrections employee that threatened to fire anyone who voted for his opponent, Jeff Cassidy, and saying that department employees would urinate on Cassidy's grave. ^[1] Cassidy ultimately won the election. ^[2]

A 2022 lawsuit claims that sheriff's deputies retaliated against a woman who had asked them to wear face masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[3]

Fallen officers

Since the organization was established, 10 members of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office have died in the line of duty. ^[4]

Officer	Date of Death	Details
Special Deputy Lee Eldridge	December 25, 1907	Special Deputy Eldridge was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who had broken into the post office in Harris, Tennessee. A warrant for the man's arrest was placed in the hands of a regular deputy, who deputized Mr. Eldridge to assist him. As Deputy Eldridge and the other deputy approached the man, the suspect suddenly leveled a shotgun at them and opened fire, killing Deputy Eldridge. The 23-year-old suspect was captured two days later near Abingdon, Virginia.
Deputy Sheriff Hubert Webb	April 13, 1925	Deputy Hubert Webb and Patrolman John Smith, of the Kingsport Police Department, were shot and killed as they and another officer attempted to arrest a fugitive. The suspect was wanted for murdering Deputy Sheriff Murdock McIntosh, of the Greene County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Department, on December 24, 1924. As the officers approached, the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding both officers and a civilian who was with the officers. The suspect was apprehended and later died while serving time in a penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi.
Sergeant Arthur Carroll Lane	March 30, 1981	Sergeant Lane was struck and killed by a vehicle while conducting a roadblock to stop a stolen vehicle on Wadlow Gap Road. The driver of the vehicle struck Sergeant Lane as he stood outside of his patrol car. The juvenile was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 6 years in prison, but released after serving only 3 years. During the investigation of his murder, Sergeant Paul Mooneyham of the Tennessee Highway Patrol suffered a fatal heart attack due to the stress and long hours of the investigation.
Patrolman Glayton Mitchell Parker	May 31, 1990	Deputy Glayton Parker was shot in the face and killed with a high powered rifle while attempting to serve a misdemeanor warrant because the suspect failed to show up for a court-ordered mental evaluation.
Sergeant Roscoe Teague	May 30, 1995	Patrolman Teague suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being involved in an altercation with two men during a traffic stop. During the altercation, he had to spray the men with his department issued chemical agent. He suffered a heart attack a short time later. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained until passing away while waiting for a heart transplant.
Deputy Sheriff Steve N Mullins	November 22, 1995	Deputy Steve Mullins was killed when he was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle, being driven by three runaway juveniles, had been stolen in Florida and was being chased by members of another department. Deputy Mullins pulled his cruiser into the lane of traffic in which the van was traveling to protect the traffic ahead of him. The van crashed into the cruiser, knocking Deputy Mullins into the grill of a wrecker approximately 25 feet away. He was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Reserve Deputy Barry Shelton	September 30, 2001	Reserve Deputy Barry Shelton and Deputy Stephen Riner were killed in a single vehicle accident while responding to a domestic violence call. Both officers were killed when their vehicle went off the roadway and hit a tree.
Deputy Sheriff Stephen Dwight Riner	September 30, 2001	Reserve Deputy Barry Shelton and Deputy Stephen Riner were killed in a single vehicle accident while responding to a domestic violence call. Both officers were killed when their vehicle went off the roadway and hit a tree.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Bowlin, Sr.	October 31, 2016	Deputy Sheriff Robert Bowlin succumbed to injuries sustained on November 11, 2006, when he was struck by a vehicle on I-81. He was investigating another vehicle crash when an oncoming pickup truck drove off the roadway and struck him. He was never able to fully recover from his injuries and he died as a direct result of complications on October 31, 2016. Deputy Bowlin had served with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office for 19 years.
Sergeant Steve Hinkle	February 26, 2019	Sergeant Steve Hinkle succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three days earlier at 3606 Highway 11W. Deputies had responded to the residence to conduct a welfare check on an occupant. As they approached the home the occupant opened fire on them, causing them to seek cover. As the deputies attempted to establish communication with the man he opened fire a second time, striking Sergeant Hinkle during the exchange of gunfire. The subject was found deceased inside the home several hours later. Sergeant Hinkle was transported to the hospital where he died as a result of his wounds on February 26, 2019. Sergeant Hinkle had served with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office for 27 years. [5]

See also

• United States portal

• List of law enforcement agencies in Tennessee

References

1. Smith, Rain (2018-07-29). "Sullivan Co. sheriff apologizes for texts blasting opponent, threatening employees". Johnson City Press. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
2. Spell, Lurah (2018-08-10). "Sullivan sheriff-elect plans to shake up current staff". Bristol Herald Courier - Tricities. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
3. Satterfield, Jamie (2022-05-23). "Sullivan County woman claims sheriff's deputies retaliated after she insisted on masks". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
4. "Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, TN".
5. "Sullivan County Sheriff's deputy dies after being shot while on duty". Knoxville News Sentinel. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2022-10-16.