Knox County Sheriff - Sheriff J.J. Jones
Departments
Patrol
The Patrol Division maintains a strong presence in neighborhoods and around businesses in Knox County. The Traffic Unit focuses on traffic enforcement which frees the Patrol Division to concentrate more on personal safety.
Office of Professional Standards
The OPS makes sure that officers are held to the highest standards of officials conduct. The office processes, documents, and investigates allegations of misconduct and policy and procedural violations. It also investigates incidents where an officer has discharged a firearm. The OPS staff strives to maintain citizen confidence as well as guarantee due process protection to citizens and officers alike.
Planning and Development
This is the umbrella division for a variety of functions: grants, media relations, special events, website, and videos. Since the division was formed in 1994, it has procured millions of dollars to put more officers on the street and in the schools, develop special programs for corrections, technology, and community projects.
Media Relations is the most visible part of the unit as it deals with local, state, and national media to provide interviews, story idea, press releases, mug shots and updating the website and media line with current information.
School Division
This division covers all public schools in Knox County: 25 elementary and intermediate schools, 7 middle schools and 9 high schools. The focus is protection as officers provide security and interact with both staff and students. This interaction helps students develop a rapport with the officers and help form trust. This trust has led to the prevention of many serious crimes.
During the summer months, the division joins the Patrol Division to assist in answering calls for service and increasing patrols in neighborhoods and around businesses throughout Knox County.
Aviation Unit
The unit assists patrol in all enforcements functions such as pursuits, officer safety, drug bust support, marijuana eradication, special operations and search and rescue. It provides services to any surrounding counties that request help.
The unit was formed in 1996 when the Sheriff’s Office procured surplus helicopters from the military. It now has a fleet of four OH-58+ and one UH-1H (Huey). It is strictly operated by drug seizures, fines and forfeitures at little cost to taxpayers.
The helicopters have been called to assist during national disasters such as flood ravaged North Carolina when Hurricane Floyd hit the state and during Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.
Warrants
Criminal Warrants is responsible for serving warrants and arresting wanted persons inside Knox County. The unit deals with extradition of fugitives from other states to stand trial in Knoxville and also returns prisoners from other counties within the state to face local charges.
Civil Warrants serves all civil papers issued by the courts such as subpoenas, lawsuits, landlord/tenant actions, forced evictions, orders of protection, writs of possession, wage garnishments and levies.
Major Crimes
The unit is committed to the thorough and timely investigation for all crimes assigned to it. The detectives use teamwork, proven and nationally accepted interview techniques, innovative thinking, and crime scene forensic analysis to help solve homicides and other major crimes.
General Assignment
The division investigates property crime such as burglary, theft, auto theft, vandalism, fraud and forgery. The detectives work very hard to have one of the highest clearance rates in the country. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of stolen property is recovered and returned to the rightful owners every year.
Homeland Security
The unit works with many agencies such as the FBI Safe Street Task Force, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Marshals, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Anti-Terrorism Advisory Committee as they share information and help make our area safe. Officers also conduct classes on homeland security issues and gang education.
Juvenile Crimes
The Juvenile Crime Task Force works with Juvenile Court in investigating, arresting, and serving court orders against adults who have been accused of committing a crime against a child. The Task Force is looks for solutions to juvenile problems by working with DCS, Knox County Schools, the Attorney General’s Office and Helen Ross McNabb.
Forensics
The Forensics Unit responds to crime scenes to interpret, collect, document, and store evidence. The unit provides the investigator with a starting point by determining the identities of suspects and victims and to piece together the physical evidence found at the scene.
Court Services
This division provides certified officers in and around the court areas. They also assist in the screening people as they enter the City/County Building and the Old Courthouse through metal detectors and they check items through x-ray machines.
The Bailiffs are assigned to work with a specific judge and are responsible for opening court and managing the courtroom.
Reserves
Reserve officers are volunteers who are an integral part of the Sheriff’s Office. They perform various duties that include assisting patrol, corrections, undercover retail theft operations, forensics, accident reconstruction, and in-service training. Sometimes a patrol car isn’t practical for patrolling certain areas. That’s when you’ll see reserve officers on bicycles patrolling parks, neighborhoods, and shopping areas.
If you are interested in becoming a Reserve Officer please download the application, scan and email it to
fred.flenniken@knoxsheriff.org
or fax it to 865-215-5617. You can also mail it to:
Capt. Fred Flenniken
Reserve Division
Knox County Sheriff’s Office
400 Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
If you have any questions, please call 865-215-5939.
Click here for the application (pdf)
Records
The Records Division provides the public with records and reports relating to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and all area law enforcement. The Division handles local, state, and federal information relating to criminal and vehicle records, missing persons, and stolen property. In addition, Records provides support to all officers and employees of the department through accurate record keeping. Within Records is the Teleserve Division and the LEIDS Division. Teleserve makes various non-emergency crime reports and assists the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. LEIDS, also in operation at all times, is responsible for entering missing persons and stolen articles into NCIC. To contact our Records Division, please call 865-215-2243.
Animal Control Unit
The Knox County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Unit responds to animal abuse, animals running at large, noise, vicious/dangerous dogs, rabies control, and animal bites.
Email: Animalcontrol@knoxsheriff.org
865-215-2444 (Sheriff's Dispatch)
Hours: Seven days per week - 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Emergencies 10:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M.
More information on the Animal Control Unit
