The citizens of Bradley County deserve a courteous and professional response by qualified personnel when they need the assistance of the sheriff’s office.

My goal is to hire the best qualified personnel we can find so we can continue building on the department we have that has achieved a reputation as one of the top county law enforcement agencies in the state of Tennessee.

Requirements for the position of law enforcement officer in Tennessee are spelled out in state law and by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which we know as the POST Commission.  POST determines the training requirements of all full-time officers and all training must be documented in a timely manner.

The minimum standards for a full-time police officer, which the law defines as a person earning the bulk of their livelihood in this profession, takes into account the individuals background and formal education.  I should point out that POST Commission requirements include 40 hours of annual in-service that must be documented by the appropriate agency upon successful completion by the individual.   

Occasionally we have an inquiry about the state of Tennessee’s minimum standards for a deputy sheriff.     

1. Be at least 18 years of age;
2. Be a citizen of the United States;
3. Be a high school graduate or possess its equivalency which shall include a general educational development (GED) certificate;
4. Not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge or to any violation of any federal or state laws or city ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor or controlled substances;
5. Not have been released or discharged under any other than honorable discharge from any of the armed forces of the United States;
6. Have their fingerprints on file with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation;
7. Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician;
8. Have a good moral character as determined by a thorough investigation conducted by the employing agency; and
9. Be free of all apparent mental disorders as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) of the American Psychiatric Association. An applicant must be certified as meeting these criteria by a qualified professional in the psychiatric or psychological field.

There are additional requirements of the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.   

Full-time law enforcement officers employed after July 1, 1982 must be certified by the commission for successful completion of a POST certified Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy.   

These requirements apply to every law enforcement office in the state as the minimum standards for employment.  Some agencies create more restrictive requirements and salaries and benefits vary across the state.

Pinning on a badge is much different than 30 years ago.  In those days almost anyone would qualify for the job because special training was not required.  Today pinning on the badge means a lot more – it represents being a part of a profession that recognizes ability, hard work, and professionalism.

Bradley County has many fine officers serving with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland Police Department and the Charleston Police Department.  They are deserving of our appreciation for the job they do.

Tim Gobble
Bradley County Sheriff