Sheriff
Steve Lawson

Sheriff Steve Lawson is a lifelong resident of Bradley County and a graduate of Bradley Central High School. He began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 1976 as a dispatcher. Over the years, he has served under six different administrations, working as a patrolman, detective, and in supervisory roles across both divisions. He also served as Director of the 10th Judicial District Drug & Violent Crime Task Force from 2010 to 2014, working under two District Attorneys General.

Sheriff Lawson has trained at both the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in Donelson and the Cleveland State Law Enforcement Training Academy. He has also completed extensive specialized training in all areas of law enforcement, including patrol operations, investigations, leadership, and management.

In August 2018, he was elected Sheriff of Bradley County and was sworn in on September 1, 2018. He follows in the footsteps of his father, the late Sheriff Lamar Lawson, who served Bradley County from 1974 to 1980. In 2026, Sheriff Lawson will begin his third term as Sheriff.