 Sheriff Tim Gobble Tim Gobble is a native of Cleveland and Bradley County and is a graduate of Cleveland High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in government and public administration from David Lipscomb University in Nashville. Gobble is a former Cleveland Police officer and served as a special agent with the United States Secret Service for 15 years. He is a graduate of the United States Secret Service Special Agent Training Academy and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Criminal Investigator Training Program, both of which represent the state-of-the-art in modern law enforcement education and training. He has completed the state of Tennessee’s New Sheriff’s School and is P.O.S.T. certified by the state. During his law enforcement career Gobble received numerous Outstanding Performance Awards and has completed a wide range of in-service training courses, including the Ethics and Integrity Program and the Education and Development Program for Supervisors at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland. He has completed the University of Tennessee Elected Officials Training Academy, Level 1, and is a graduate of the prestigious FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, Quantico Va., as well as the Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. Gobble is a former director of the Cleveland / Bradley County Emergency Management Agency, former member of the Cleveland City Council, and is a member of Kiwanis Club of Cleveland. He is a member of the District III Homeland Security Council, a member of the 911 Communications Board, the District 10 Drug Task Force Board of Directors, and serves as an elder of the Central Church of Christ. He has been serving as Bradley County Sheriff since Sept. 2006. Tim and his wife Christie have three children, Christopher, Courtney and Caitlyn.
 Chief Deputy Bill Dyer
Chief Deputy Bill Dyer, who has over 24 years of service with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, is a native of Bradley County and a graduate of Bradley Central High School. Chief Dyer began his career as a volunteer reserve patrol deputy sheriff before accepting a full time position as a correctional deputy at the Bradley County jail in 1986. He was later transferred to the patrol division where, in addition to his regular duties, he served as a member of the SWAT team. During his career, which spans two decades, Chief Dyer was awarded the Cleveland Jaycees Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer award, BCSO medal of Valor, Meritorious Service and the Medal of Heroism. He is also the recipient of the Law Enforcement Commendation Medal from the Sons of the American Revolution. In 2006 Chief Dyer received the honor of Colonel Aide de Camp by the Governor of Tennessee. He has held supervisory positions throughout the sheriff’s office and eventually worked his way up through the ranks to his current position as Chief Deputy. Chief Dyer is a graduate of the Tennessee Corrections Institute basic training program and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. He is also a graduate of the 226th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Training Academy and the University of Tennessee Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy. These academies provide some of the most advanced modern law enforcement administration training available. Chief Dyer continued his law enforcement executive training by completing the University of Tennessee Local Government Leadership Program, Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy Newly Elected Sheriff’s School, University of Virginia Criminal Justice Education Achievement Certificate, Tennessee Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Law Enforcement Executive Development Program. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee County Officials Certificate Training Program and holds the designation as a Certified Public Administrator. He has also completed numerous other training programs in a variety of law enforcement areas during his service to Bradley County. Chief Dyer is a member of the Tennessee Sheriff's Association, Fraternal Order of Police, FBI National Academy Graduates Association, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and the Sons of the American Revolution. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment is being the husband of Tonya Dyer and father to two sons, Billy and Troy Dyer.  Captain Jon Collins – Patrol Division
Captain Collins has been associated with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years, where he began as a reserve deputy in 1992. He joined the department in a fulltime capacity in 1994 and has been assigned to the patrol division throughout his law enforcement career. Captain Collins progressed through the ranks as a corporal, sergeant, and lieutenant, the position he held for the past five years before being promoted to captain in September, 2006. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy and the Institute for Police Technology and Management. He has received training in all areas of modern law enforcement, including terrorism, counter drug operations, supervisory development, advanced crisis negotiation, and incident command and community policing programs. |  Captain Gabriel Thomas – Corrections Division
Captain Gabriel Thomas has been associated with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office for eleven (11) years. He joined the department after serving four (4) yearson active duty in the United States Army. Captain Thomas progressed through the ranks as a corporal, sergeant, and lieutenant. He has received training in many areas of law enforcement such as T.C.I. (Tennessee Corrections Institute) Jail Administrators Certification, National Institute of Corrections Jail Administrators Certification, Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (TLEEDS), FBI Firearms Instructor Course, FBI Instructor Development Course and Homeland Security Weapons of Mass Destruction Course and is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. He is also the recipient of an Army Accommodation Medal and Commanders Award. |  Captain Jim Ruth – Judicial Services
Captain Ruth has 34 years in the law enforcement profession beginning his career as a patrolman for the Cleveland Police Department. In 1984 he joined the patrol division of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office but during his tenure he has also served in the Criminal Investigations Division and the Drug Enforcement Unit. His supervisory and leadership experience includes positions as sergeant, lieutenant, senior lieutenant, captain, and chief deputy. Captain Ruth was named to his current position on September 1, 2006 after serving a number of years as Senior Lieutenant in the Court Services Division. He is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and has completed numerous law enforcement in-service training programs pertaining to all aspects of law enforcement operation. He holds an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Cleveland State, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a Master of Ministry degree from the Andersonville Theological Seminary. |  Captain Steve Lawson – Criminal Investigations Division
Captain Steve Lawson oversees the Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office. His law enforcement career started in 1976 and has focused heavily on the patrol and criminal investigations divisions, where he rose to the rank of Captain of both divisions, gaining valuable supervisory experience. Captain Lawson has served under five different Sheriffs during his years with the Sheriff’s office. He is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy at Donelson, the Cleveland State Law Enforcement Training Academy and many specialized training opportunities dealing with all aspects of law enforcement, including criminal investigation and law enforcement management. Some of the training includes the Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Training School, Legal Aspect of Law Enforcement School, FBI Fingerprint School, Criminal Investigations School, Homicide Investigations School, Auto Theft School, Major Case Investigations School and many others. Captain Lawson serves as the Point of Contact for the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council of the Eastern District of Tennessee for the Sheriff’s Office. A member of a well known law enforcement family, Captain Lawson followed in the footsteps of his father, Lamar Lawson, and uncle, Robert Lawson, who pursued law enforcement careers leading both to hold the office of Bradley County Sheriff. |  Captain Jim Hodgson –Training and Support Services
Captain Hodgson has served with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office since 1987. A native of Bradley County, he started his law enforcement career in 1974 as a Public Safety Officer with the University of Georgia Police. He has served in a variety of patrol, investigative, and management assignments during his career. As part of his responsibilities he serves as Accreditation Manager, guiding the department through the process of attaining accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Capt. Hodgson is a certified DARE Officer and Police Instructor and is nationally recognized by the Community Policing Consortium as a County-Level Community Policing Trainer and by the U.S. Department of Justice as an instructor in Domestic Terrorism Orientation and Awareness. He has designed and taught training programs on a variety of police science, community policing, management leadership, and crime prevention topics for law enforcement officers, supervisors, businesses, college classes, community groups, government agencies and civic organizations. He has served as a consultant to other agencies in the region, on issues such as community policing, employee retention and training development. He also serves on the faculty of Cleveland State Community College Basic Police Academy. Capt. Hodgson is a 1971 graduate of Bradley Central High School. He holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he has also completed post-graduate studies in Public Administration. |
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Command Staff 